How to use Special Character in Linux

Now lets try to create a file with special character dash (-). If you set the file name as follows it results the following error.

[root@linuxhelp Desktop]# touch -abc.txt
touch: invalid option -- ' b' 

Use -- option and enter the file name starts with (-) dash to overcome the above error.

[root@linuxhelp Desktop]# touch -- -abc.txt

List to view the created file.

[root@linuxhelp Desktop]# ls -l
total 59240
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root        0 Jun 17 02:37 123.txt
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root        0 Jun 17 02:39 -abc.txt

The following error occurs when we open the file with editor.

[root@linuxhelp Desktop]# vim -abc.txt 
VIM - Vi IMproved 7.4 (2013 Aug 10, compiled Jul 24 2015 02:23:23)
Unknown option argument: " -abc.txt" 

To open this file again you should use -- option before that file name .

[root@linuxhelp Desktop]# vim -- -abc.txt

The following error occurs when we move the special character file from one location to another location.

[root@linuxhelp Desktop]# mv -abc.txt /var/www/html/
mv: invalid option -- ' a' 

So use --option before the file name to move the file from one location to another location.

[root@linuxhelp Desktop]# mv -- -abc.txt /var/www/html/

The following error occurs when we remove the special character file.

[root@linuxhelp html]# rm -abc.txt 
rm: invalid option -- ' a' 

For removing file use -- option before the file.

[root@linuxhelp html]# rm -- -abc.txt

File name starts with special character hash (#)

Create the file name starts with special character # and the file name should be in quotes.

[root@linuxhelp ~]# touch ' #abc.txt' 
                (or) 
[root@linuxhelp ~]# touch  ./#abc.txt

Check whether the file is created or not.

[root@linuxhelp ~]# ls
#abc.txt         Desktop    Downloads    install.log.syslog  Pictures  Templates  Videos
anaconda-ks.cfg  Documents  install.log  Music               Public    testing

Open the file using vim or any other editor.

[root@linuxhelp ~]# vim ' #abc.txt' 

To remove the file .

[root@linuxhelp ~]# rm -rf ' #abc.txt' 

To move the file

[root@linuxhelp ~]# mv  ' #abc.txt'   /var/www/

File name starts with semi-colon ( )

Create the file name starts with ( ) semi colon by using the following command.

[root@linuxhelp ~]# touch '  abcd.txt' 

Open the file by vim or any other editor.

[root@linuxhelp ~]# vim  '  abcd.txt' 

Remove the file .

[root@linuxhelp ~]# rm &ndash rf  '  abcd.txt' 

To Create multiple file which means one normal file and special character based file name at same time

[root@linuxhelp ~]# touch abc.txt ' #abc.txt' 

File with different special character without any restrictions

To Create the file with different special character without any restrictions, run the following command.

Creating file name with Product symbol (*)

[root@linuxhelp ~]# touch *abc.txt

Creating file name with dollor symbol ($)

[root@linuxhelp ~]# touch  $abc.txt

Creating file name with percentage symbol (%)

[root@linuxhelp ~]# touch  %abc.txt

Creating file name with at symbol (@)

[root@linuxhelp ~]# touch @abc.txt

Creating file name with factorial symbol (!)

[root@linuxhelp ~]# touch ' !efg.txt' 
[root@linuxhelp ~]# ls
@abc.txt  abc.txt          Documents  install.log         Pictures   testing
%abc.txt  anaconda-ks.cfg  Downloads  install.log.syslog  Public     Videos
+abc.txt  Desktop          !efg.txt   Music               Templates

Creating file name start with Parenthesis

[root@linuxhelp ~]# touch ' (file.txt)' 
[root@linuxhelp ~]# ls
@abc.txt  abc.txt          Documents  (file.txt)          Music     Templates
%abc.txt  anaconda-ks.cfg  Downloads  install.log         Pictures  testing
+abc.txt  Desktop          !efg.txt   install.log.syslog  Public    Videos

Creating file name start with Chevrons

[root@linuxhelp ~]# touch ' ' 

Creating file name start with Square Brackets

[root@linuxhelp ~]# touch ' [ijk.txt]' 

[root@linuxhelp ~]# touch a.b.c.txt
[root@linuxhelp ~]# ls
  +abc.txt   anaconda-ks.cfg  Downloads   [ijk.txt]           Music     Templates
@abc.txt   a.b.c.txt  Desktop          !efg.txt    install.log         Pictures  testing
%abc.txt   abc.txt    Documents        (file.txt)  install.log.syslog  Public    Videos

[root@linuxhelp ~]# touch this is my file.txt
[root@linuxhelp ~]# ls
  a.b.c.txt        Documents   [ijk.txt]           Pictures   this is my file.txt
@abc.txt   abc.txt          Downloads   install.log         Public     Videos
%abc.txt   anaconda-ks.cfg  !efg.txt    install.log.syslog  Templates
+abc.txt   Desktop          (file.txt)  Music               testing