在 Linux 下 9 个有用的 touch 命令示例
touch
`touch` 命令用于创建空文件，也可以更改 Unix 和 Linux 系统上现有文件时间戳。这里所说的更改时间戳意味着更新文件和目录的访问以及修改时间。


![](/data/attachment/album/201805/02/124305fz8yyeoz58xedzzd.jpg)


让我们来看看 `touch` 命令的语法和选项：


**语法**：



```
# touch {选项} {文件}

```

`touch` 命令中使用的选项：


![touch-command-options](/data/attachment/album/201805/02/124334ya7zap22tjwa3ooc.jpg)


在这篇文章中，我们将介绍 Linux 中 9 个有用的 `touch` 命令示例。


### 示例：1 使用 touch 创建一个空文件


要在 Linux 系统上使用 `touch` 命令创建空文件，键入 `touch`，然后输入文件名。如下所示：



```
[root@linuxtechi ~]# touch devops.txt
[root@linuxtechi ~]# ls -l devops.txt
-rw-r--r--. 1 root root 0 Mar 29 22:39 devops.txt

```

### 示例：2 使用 touch 创建批量空文件


可能会出现一些情况，我们必须为某些测试创建大量空文件，这可以使用 `touch` 命令轻松实现：



```
[root@linuxtechi ~]# touch sysadm-{1..20}.txt

```

在上面的例子中，我们创建了 20 个名为 `sysadm-1.txt` 到 `sysadm-20.txt` 的空文件，你可以根据需要更改名称和数字。


### 示例：3 改变/更新文件和目录的访问时间


假设我们想要改变名为 `devops.txt` 文件的访问时间，在 `touch` 命令中使用 `-a` 选项，然后输入文件名。如下所示：



```
[root@linuxtechi ~]# touch -a devops.txt

```

现在使用 `stat` 命令验证文件的访问时间是否已更新：



```
[root@linuxtechi ~]# stat devops.txt
  File: 'devops.txt'
  Size: 0               Blocks: 0          IO Block: 4096   regular empty file
Device: fd00h/64768d    Inode: 67324178    Links: 1
Access: (0644/-rw-r--r--)  Uid: (    0/    root)   Gid: (    0/    root)
Context: unconfined_u:object_r:admin_home_t:s0
Access: 2018-03-29 23:03:10.902000000 -0400
Modify: 2018-03-29 22:39:29.365000000 -0400
Change: 2018-03-29 23:03:10.902000000 -0400
 Birth: -

```

**改变目录的访问时间：**


假设我们在 `/mnt` 目录下有一个 `nfsshare` 文件夹，让我们用下面的命令改变这个文件夹的访问时间：



```
[root@linuxtechi ~]# touch -m /mnt/nfsshare/
[root@linuxtechi ~]# stat /mnt/nfsshare/
  File: '/mnt/nfsshare/'
  Size: 6               Blocks: 0          IO Block: 4096   directory
Device: fd00h/64768d    Inode: 2258        Links: 2
Access: (0755/drwxr-xr-x)  Uid: (    0/    root)   Gid: (    0/    root)
Context: unconfined_u:object_r:mnt_t:s0
Access: 2018-03-29 23:34:38.095000000 -0400
Modify: 2018-03-03 10:42:45.194000000 -0500
Change: 2018-03-29 23:34:38.095000000 -0400
 Birth: -

```

### 示例：4 更改访问时间而不用创建新文件


在某些情况下，如果文件存在，我们希望更改文件的访问时间，并避免创建文件。在 touch 命令中使用 `-c` 选项即可，如果文件存在，那么我们可以改变文件的访问时间，如果不存在，我们也可不会创建它。



```
[root@linuxtechi ~]# touch -c sysadm-20.txt
[root@linuxtechi ~]# touch -c winadm-20.txt
[root@linuxtechi ~]# ls -l winadm-20.txt
ls: cannot access winadm-20.txt: No such file or directory

```

### 示例：5 更改文件和目录的修改时间


在 `touch` 命令中使用 `-m` 选项，我们可以更改文件和目录的修改时间。


让我们更改名为 `devops.txt` 文件的更改时间：



```
[root@linuxtechi ~]# touch -m devops.txt

```

现在使用 `stat` 命令来验证修改时间是否改变：



```
[root@linuxtechi ~]# stat devops.txt
  File: 'devops.txt'
  Size: 0               Blocks: 0          IO Block: 4096   regular empty file
Device: fd00h/64768d    Inode: 67324178    Links: 1
Access: (0644/-rw-r--r--)  Uid: (    0/    root)   Gid: (    0/    root)
Context: unconfined_u:object_r:admin_home_t:s0
Access: 2018-03-29 23:03:10.902000000 -0400
Modify: 2018-03-29 23:59:49.106000000 -0400
Change: 2018-03-29 23:59:49.106000000 -0400
 Birth: -

```

同样的，我们可以改变一个目录的修改时间：



```
[root@linuxtechi ~]# touch -m /mnt/nfsshare/

```

使用 `stat` 交叉验证访问和修改时间：



```
[root@linuxtechi ~]# stat devops.txt
  File: 'devops.txt'
  Size: 0               Blocks: 0          IO Block: 4096   regular empty file
Device: fd00h/64768d    Inode: 67324178    Links: 1
Access: (0644/-rw-r--r--)  Uid: (    0/    root)   Gid: (    0/    root)
Context: unconfined_u:object_r:admin_home_t:s0
Access: 2018-03-30 00:06:20.145000000 -0400
Modify: 2018-03-30 00:06:20.145000000 -0400
Change: 2018-03-30 00:06:20.145000000 -0400
 Birth: -

```

### 示例：7 将访问和修改时间设置为特定的日期和时间


每当我们使用 `touch` 命令更改文件和目录的访问和修改时间时，它将当前时间设置为该文件或目录的访问和修改时间。


假设我们想要将特定的日期和时间设置为文件的访问和修改时间，这可以使用 `touch` 命令中的 `-c` 和 `-t` 选项来实现。


日期和时间可以使用以下格式指定：



```
{CCYY}MMDDhhmm.ss

```

其中：


* `CC` – 年份的前两位数字
* `YY` – 年份的后两位数字
* `MM` – 月份 (01-12)
* `DD` – 天 (01-31)
* `hh` – 小时 (00-23)
* `mm` – 分钟 (00-59)


让我们将 `devops.txt` 文件的访问和修改时间设置为未来的一个时间（2025 年 10 月 19 日 18 时 20 分）。



```
[root@linuxtechi ~]# touch -c -t 202510191820 devops.txt

```

使用 `stat` 命令查看更新访问和修改时间：


![stat-command-output-linux](/data/attachment/album/201805/02/124339xke25hm258969lel.jpg)


根据日期字符串设置访问和修改时间，在 `touch` 命令中使用 `-d` 选项，然后指定日期字符串，后面跟文件名。如下所示：



```
[root@linuxtechi ~]# touch -c -d "2010-02-07 20:15:12.000000000 +0530" sysadm-29.txt

```

使用 `stat` 命令验证文件的状态：



```
[root@linuxtechi ~]# stat sysadm-20.txt
  File: ‘sysadm-20.txt’
  Size: 0               Blocks: 0          IO Block: 4096   regular empty file
Device: fd00h/64768d    Inode: 67324189    Links: 1
Access: (0644/-rw-r--r--)  Uid: (    0/    root)   Gid: (    0/    root)
Context: unconfined_u:object_r:admin_home_t:s0
Access: 2010-02-07 20:15:12.000000000 +0530
Modify: 2010-02-07 20:15:12.000000000 +0530
Change: 2018-03-30 10:23:31.584000000 +0530
 Birth: -

```

**注意：**在上述命令中，如果我们不指定 `-c`，如果系统中不存在该文件那么 `touch` 命令将创建一个新文件，并将时间戳设置为命令中给出的。


### 示例：8 使用参考文件设置时间戳（-r）


在 `touch` 命令中，我们可以使用参考文件来设置文件或目录的时间戳。假设我想在 `devops.txt` 文件上设置与文件 `sysadm-20.txt` 文件相同的时间戳，`touch` 命令中使用 `-r` 选项可以轻松实现。


**语法：**



```
# touch -r {参考文件} 真正文件

```


```
[root@linuxtechi ~]# touch -r sysadm-20.txt devops.txt

```

### 示例：9 在符号链接文件上更改访问和修改时间


默认情况下，每当我们尝试使用 `touch` 命令更改符号链接文件的时间戳时，它只会更改原始文件的时间戳。如果你想更改符号链接文件的时间戳，则可以使用 `touch` 命令中的 `-h` 选项来实现。


**语法：**



```
# touch -h {符号链接文件}

```


```
[root@linuxtechi opt]# ls -l /root/linuxgeeks.txt
lrwxrwxrwx. 1 root root 15 Mar 30 10:56 /root/linuxgeeks.txt -> linuxadmins.txt
[root@linuxtechi ~]# touch -t 203010191820 -h linuxgeeks.txt
[root@linuxtechi ~]# ls -l linuxgeeks.txt
lrwxrwxrwx. 1 root root 15 Oct 19  2030 linuxgeeks.txt -> linuxadmins.txt

```

这就是本教程的全部了。我希望这些例子能帮助你理解 `touch` 命令。请分享你的宝贵意见和评论。




---


via: <https://www.linuxtechi.com/9-useful-touch-command-examples-linux/>


作者：[Pradeep Kumar](https://www.linuxtechi.com/author/pradeep/) 译者：[MjSeven](https://github.com/MjSeven) 校对：[wxy](https://github.com/wxy)


本文由 [LCTT](https://github.com/LCTT/TranslateProject) 原创编译，[Linux中国](https://linux.cn/) 荣誉推出


OK
In this blog post, we will cover touch command in Linux with 9 useful practical examples.

Touch command is used to change file timestamps and also used to create empty or blank files in Linux.

#### Syntax


# touch {options} {file}

Options:

Let’s delve into some practical examples to showcase its utility.

## 1) Create an empty file


One of the main function of touch command is to create empty or blank file, example is shown below:

[root@linuxtechi ~]# touch devops.txt [root@linuxtechi ~]# ls -l devops.txt -rw-r--r--. 1 root root 0 Mar 29 22:39 devops.txt [root@linuxtechi ~]#

## 2) Create empty files in bulk


There can be some scenarios where we have to create lots of empty files for some testing, this can be easily achieved using touch command with regular expression as shown,

[root@linuxtechi ~]# touch sysadm-{1..20}.txt

In the above example, we have created 20 empty files with name sysadm-1.txt to sysadm-20.txt, you can change the name and numbers based on your requirements.

## 3) Update access time of a file and directory

Let’s assume we want to change access time of a file called “**devops.txt**“, to do this use ‘**-a**‘ option in touch command followed by file name, example is shown below,

[root@linuxtechi ~]# touch -a devops.txt [root@linuxtechi ~]#

Now verify whether access time of a file has been updated or not using ‘stat’ command

```
[root@linuxtechi ~]# stat devops.txt
File: ‘devops.txt’
Size: 0 Blocks: 0 IO Block: 4096 regular empty file
Device: fd00h/64768d Inode: 67324178 Links: 1
Access: (0644/-rw-r--r--) Uid: ( 0/ root) Gid: ( 0/ root)
Context: unconfined_u:object_r:admin_home_t:s0
Access: 2018-03-29 23:03:10.902000000 -0400
Modify: 2018-03-29 22:39:29.365000000 -0400
Change: 2018-03-29 23:03:10.902000000 -0400
Birth: -
[root@linuxtechi ~]#
```

**Change access time of a directory**,

Let’s assume we have a ‘nfsshare’ folder under /mnt, Let’s change the access time of this folder using the below command,

[root@linuxtechi ~]# touch -a /mnt/nfsshare/ [root@linuxtechi ~]#

```
[root@linuxtechi ~]# stat /mnt/nfsshare/
File: ‘/mnt/nfsshare/’
Size: 6 Blocks: 0 IO Block: 4096 directory
Device: fd00h/64768d Inode: 2258 Links: 2
Access: (0755/drwxr-xr-x) Uid: ( 0/ root) Gid: ( 0/ root)
Context: unconfined_u:object_r:mnt_t:s0
Access: 2018-03-29 23:34:38.095000000 -0400
Modify: 2018-03-03 10:42:45.194000000 -0500
Change: 2018-03-29 23:34:38.095000000 -0400
Birth: -
[root@linuxtechi ~]#
```

## 4) Change Access time without creating new file

There can be some situations where we want to change access time of a file if it exists and avoid creating the file. Using ‘**-c**‘ option in touch command, we can change access time of a file if it exists and will not a create a file, if it doesn’t exist.

[root@linuxtechi ~]# touch -c sysadm-20.txt [root@linuxtechi ~]# touch -c winadm-20.txt [root@linuxtechi ~]# ls -l winadm-20.txt ls: cannot access winadm-20.txt: No such file or directory [root@linuxtechi ~]#

Note: winadm-20.txt does not exist the file, that’s why we are getting an error while listing file.

## 5) Change Modification time of a file and directory

Using ‘**-m**‘ option in touch command, we can change the modification time of a file and directory,

Let’s change the modification time of a file called “devops.txt”,

[root@linuxtechi ~]# touch -m devops.txt [root@linuxtechi ~]#

Now verify whether modification time has been changed or not using stat command,

```
[root@linuxtechi ~]# stat devops.txt
File: ‘devops.txt’
Size: 0 Blocks: 0 IO Block: 4096 regular empty file
Device: fd00h/64768d Inode: 67324178 Links: 1
Access: (0644/-rw-r--r--) Uid: ( 0/ root) Gid: ( 0/ root)
Context: unconfined_u:object_r:admin_home_t:s0
Access: 2018-03-29 23:03:10.902000000 -0400
Modify: 2018-03-29 23:59:49.106000000 -0400
Change: 2018-03-29 23:59:49.106000000 -0400
Birth: -
[root@linuxtechi ~]#
```

Similarly, we can change modification time of a directory,

[root@linuxtechi ~]# touch -m /mnt/nfsshare/ [root@linuxtechi ~]#

## 6) Changing access and modification time in one go

Use “**-am**” option in touch command to change the access and modification together or in one go, example is shown below,

[root@linuxtechi ~]# touch -am devops.txt [root@linuxtechi ~]#

Cross verify the access and modification time using stat,

[root@linuxtechi ~]# stat devops.txt File: ‘devops.txt’ Size: 0 Blocks: 0 IO Block: 4096 regular empty file Device: fd00h/64768d Inode: 67324178 Links: 1 Access: (0644/-rw-r--r--) Uid: ( 0/ root) Gid: ( 0/ root) Context: unconfined_u:object_r:admin_home_t:s0 Access: 2018-03-30 00:06:20.145000000 -0400 Modify: 2018-03-30 00:06:20.145000000 -0400 Change: 2018-03-30 00:06:20.145000000 -0400 Birth: - [root@linuxtechi ~]#

## 7) Set the Access & modification time to a specific date and time

Whenever we do change access and modification time of a file & directory using touch command, then it set the current time as access & modification time of that file or directory,

Let’s assume we want to set specific date and time as access & modification time of a file, this is can be achieved using ‘-c’ & ‘-t’ option in touch command,

Date and Time can be specified in the format: {CCYY}MMDDhhmm.ss

Where:

- CC – First two digits of a year
- YY – Second two digits of a year
- MM – Month of the Year (01-12)
- DD – Day of the Month (01-31)
- hh – Hour of the day (00-23)
- mm – Minutes of the hour (00-59)

Let’s set the access & modification time of devops.txt file for future date and time( 2025 year, 10th Month, 19th day of month, 18th hours and 20th minute)

[root@linuxtechi ~]# touch -c -t 202510191820 devops.txt

Use stat command to view the update access & modification time,

Set the Access and Modification time based on date string, Use ‘-d’ option in touch command and then specify the date string followed by the file name, example is shown below,

[root@linuxtechi ~]# touch -c -d "2010-02-07 20:15:12.000000000 +0530" sysadm-29.txt [root@linuxtechi ~]#

Verify the status using stat command,

[root@linuxtechi ~]# stat sysadm-20.txt File: ‘sysadm-20.txt’ Size: 0 Blocks: 0 IO Block: 4096 regular empty file Device: fd00h/64768d Inode: 67324189 Links: 1 Access: (0644/-rw-r--r--) Uid: ( 0/ root) Gid: ( 0/ root) Context: unconfined_u:object_r:admin_home_t:s0 Access: 2010-02-07 20:15:12.000000000 +0530 Modify: 2010-02-07 20:15:12.000000000 +0530 Change: 2018-03-30 10:23:31.584000000 +0530 Birth: - [root@linuxtechi ~]#

**Note:** In above commands, if we don’t specify ‘-c’ then touch command will create a new file in case it doesn’t exist on the system and will set the timestamps whatever is mentioned in the command.

## 8) Set timestamps to a file using a reference file


In touch command we can use a reference file for setting the timestamps of file or directory. Let’s assume I want to set the same timestamps of file “sysadm-20.txt” on “devops.txt” file. This can be easily achieved using ‘-r’ option in touch.

Syntax:

# touch -r {reference-file} actual-file

[root@linuxtechi ~]# touch -r sysadm-20.txt devops.txt [root@linuxtechi ~]#

## 9) Change Access & Modification time on symbolic link file

By default, whenever we try to change timestamps of a symbolic link file using touch command then it will change the timestamps of original file only, In case you want to change timestamps of a symbolic link file then this can be achieved using ‘-h’ option in touch command,

Syntax:

# touch -h {symbolic link file}

[root@linuxtechi opt]# ls -l /root/linuxgeeks.txt lrwxrwxrwx. 1 root root 15 Mar 30 10:56 /root/linuxgeeks.txt -> linuxadmins.txt [root@linuxtechi ~]# touch -t 203010191820 -h linuxgeeks.txt [root@linuxtechi ~]# ls -l linuxgeeks.txt lrwxrwxrwx. 1 root root 15 Oct 19 2030 linuxgeeks.txt -> linuxadmins.txt [root@linuxtechi ~]#

That’s all from this blog post, I hope you have found these examples useful and informative. Please do share your queries and feedback in below comments section.

Read Also: [17 useful rsync (remote sync) Command Examples in Linux](https://www.linuxtechi.com/rsync-command-examples-linux/)

Jason PerryYou’ve got a slight typo… your example for “Change access time of a directory” using -m instead of -a… which would change the Modification Time, not the Access Time.

Pradeep KumarHi Jason, Thank You very much for pointing out the typo, i have corrected it now.