In this short guide, we will learn how to list only directories using the ls command in Bash and Linux terminals. This essential skill helps developers and system administrators quickly navigate file systems, identify folder structures, and manage projects efficiently.

Here you can find the short answer:

*(1) List directories with ls -d /

ls -d */

(2) List directories with ls -l and grep

ls -l | grep "^d"

So let's see different methods to list directories in Bash.

Problem: Filtering Directories from ls Output

The standard ls command shows both files and directories together, making it difficult to:

  • Quickly identify folder structures
  • Count subdirectories in a project
  • Navigate complex directory trees
  • Write shell scripts that process only directories

Solution: Use specific ls flags and filters to display directories only.

The fastest and most reliable method to list only directories:

ls -d */

Output Result:

images/
documents/
projects/
backups/
downloads/

How it works:

  • */ - Wildcard pattern matching directories only
  • -d - List directories themselves, not their contents
  • Displays directory names with trailing slashes

Real-world example: Quickly viewing project folders in a development workspace containing both source files and directories.

2: Using ls -l with grep

Filter ls -l output to show only directory entries:

ls -l | grep "^d"

Output Result:

drwxr-xr-x  5 user staff  160 Dec 15 10:30 images
drwxr-xr-x  3 user staff   96 Dec 14 09:15 documents
drwxr-xr-x  8 user staff  256 Dec 13 14:22 projects
drwxr-xr-x  2 user staff   64 Dec 12 11:45 backups
drwxr-xr-x  4 user staff  128 Dec 11 16:30 downloads

Command breakdown:

  • ls -l - Long listing format with details
  • | - Pipe output to grep
  • grep "^d" - Filter lines starting with 'd' (directory indicator)
  • Shows permissions, owner, size, and modification date

Use case: Checking directory permissions and modification dates for backup or security audits.

3: Using find Command (Advanced)

For recursive directory listing or more complex filters:

find . -maxdepth 1 -type d

Output Result:

.
./images
./documents
./projects
./backups
./downloads

Command options:

  • . - Search in current directory
  • -maxdepth 1 - Don't search subdirectories
  • -type d - Match directories only
  • Returns full paths including current directory (.)

Exclude current directory:

find . -maxdepth 1 -type d -not -path '.'

Real-world example: Listing client project folders in a web development directory while excluding the parent folder.

4: List Directories with Full Details

Combine methods for detailed directory information:

ls -ld */

Output Result:

drwxr-xr-x  5 user staff  160 Dec 15 10:30 images/
drwxr-xr-x  3 user staff   96 Dec 14 09:15 documents/
drwxr-xr-x  8 user staff  256 Dec 13 14:22 projects/
drwxr-xr-x  2 user staff   64 Dec 12 11:45 backups/
drwxr-xr-x  4 user staff  128 Dec 11 16:30 downloads/

Flags explained:

  • -l - Long format with permissions and timestamps
  • -d - List directories, not contents
  • */ - Match only directories

Use case: Auditing folder permissions before deploying to production servers.

5: Count Number of Directories

Count subdirectories in current location:

ls -d */ | wc -l

Output Result:

5

Or with find:

find . -maxdepth 1 -type d | wc -l

Output Result:

6

Note: find includes the current directory (.) in the count, so subtract 1 for actual subdirectory count.

Advanced Options

List Directories Sorted by Modification Time

ls -ltd */

Shows most recently modified directories first.

List Hidden Directories

ls -d .*/

Output Result:

./
../
.git/
.config/
.cache/

List Directories Recursively

find . -type d

Shows all subdirectories at all levels.

List Only Directory Names (No Details)

ls -1d */

Output Result:

images/
documents/
projects/
backups/
downloads/

Common Use Cases

Project Management: List client folders, project directories, repository structures

System Administration: Audit log directories, backup folders, configuration paths

Web Development: Navigate website sections, asset folders, component directories

Data Science: Identify dataset folders, model directories, output paths

DevOps: Check deployment folders, container volumes, build directories

Performance Tips

✅ Use ls -d */ for fastest results in most cases

✅ Use find when you need recursive listing or complex filters

✅ Combine with grep for pattern matching (e.g., ls -d */ | grep project)

✅ Add -1 flag for one directory per line in scripts:

ls -1d */

✅ Use --color=auto for visual distinction in terminal:

ls -d --color=auto */

❌ Avoid parsing ls -l output in scripts - use find instead for reliability

❌ Don't use ls for scripting with spaces in filenames - prefer find -print0 with xargs -0

Quick Reference Table

Command Purpose Output Type
ls -d */ List directories Simple names with /
ls -ld */ List with details Permissions, dates, sizes
ls -l | grep "^d" Filter directories Full details
find . -maxdepth 1 -type d Find directories Full paths
ls -d */ | wc -l Count directories Number only

Troubleshooting

Problem: "No such file or directory" error

Solution: Current directory has no subdirectories. Verify with ls -la.

Problem: Command shows files too

Solution: Ensure you use */ pattern or -type d with find.

Problem: Hidden directories not shown

Solution: Use ls -d .*/ */ to include both hidden and visible directories.

Resources

Listing only directories using ls in Bash?