What is the touch Command?
The touch command is used to create a new empty file in Linux. It can also update the last accessed and modified time of an existing file without changing its content.
What Happens When You Use the touch Command on an Existing File?
When you use the touch command on a file that already exists, the file remains unchanged. It only updates its last accessed and modified time. It does not create a new file.
Syntax:
touch [option] filename
Example 1: Create a new file
Command:
$ touch file.txt
Explanation:
- If file.txt does not appear in the directory, touch creates an empty file.
- If file.txt already exists, it only updates its modified and access time.
Example 2: Create multiple files
Command:
$ touch file1.txt file2.txt file3.txt
Explanation:
This command creates three new files or updates timestamps if they already exist.
Example 3: Change date & time
Command:
$ touch -t 202509091230 file.txt
Explanation:
Sets the file's last modified/access time to 2025-09-09, 12:30.
Output:
$ ls -l -rw-r--r-- 1 user group 0 Sep 9 12:30 file.txt -rw-r--r-- 1 user group 0 Sep 9 12:30 file1.txt -rw-r--r-- 1 user group 0 Sep 9 12:30 file2.txt
Options:
- -a: Updates just the file's access time, leaving modification time unchanged.
- -m: Updates only the modification time, not access time.
- -c: Skips file creation if it does not exist.
- -t: Set custom date & time instead of system time.
Example 1: -a Option
Command:
$ touch -a file.txt
Output:
Before: -rw-r--r-- 1 user user 0 Sep 8 10:00 file.txt After: -rw-r--r-- 1 user user 0 Sep 8 11:15 file.txt
Example 2: -m Option
Command:
$ touch -m file.txt
Output:
Before: -rw-r--r-- 1 user user 0 Sep 8 10:00 file.txt After: -rw-r--r-- 1 user user 0 Sep 8 11:20 file.txt
Example 3: -c Option
Command:
$ touch -c file_not_exist.txt
Output:
(no output)
Example 4: -t Option
Command:
$ touch -t 202509091230.45 file.txt
Output:
-rw-r--r-- 1 user user 0 Sep 9 12:30 file.txt
