How to Change a Directory Name in Linux

Renaming a directory in Linux is one of those tasks that looks simple on the surface but opens up into a surprisingly nuanced topic once you factor in permissions, active sessions, scripting environments, and whether you're working locally or on a remote server. Here's what you actually need to know.

The Core Command: mv Is How Linux Renames Directories

Linux doesn't have a dedicated "rename" command for directories in the way some operating systems do. Instead, renaming is handled by the mv (move) command. When you move a directory to a new name within the same location, the effect is a rename.

The basic syntax is: