How to create a hidden file in Bash

Question

What is the bash command to create a hidden file. I want to name it .httName.

I have tried googling for this, but none of the forums suggest any work around for this. I am simply looking for the command to solve my issue. If anyone happen to know the answer please help me out.

Answer 1

Files starting with a dot are by default hidden. You can create it simply by

touch .httName

anyone will still be able to see it using

ls -a

If you want files to be properly hidden, you will have to change folder permissions using chmod. For example

chmod 770 folder_name

will prevent users (except the owner and people in the group) from listing the whole directory "folder_name".

Answer 2

Any file starting with . in file name is "hidden".

If you've a file and you want to hide it use:

mv filename.txt .filename.txt

Answer 3

Just to go further on the hidden point. As covered after the creation of a hidden type file .hidden changes to the permissions of the file and its parent are advised, especially within a multiuser box.

after you : touch .hidden secure the item with: chmod 600 .hidden and secure the parent directory: chmod go-w ~/parent/

Answer 4

the file which start with .(dot)filename is always hidden and its used for setting configuration of the application. In Linux dot files are used for same purpose.Even you are working in current directory ls command should not display hidden file use la to shoe hideen directories.