How to mkdir and switch to new directory in one line

Question

I have been using the linux console for some time now. One thing that irritates me is that every time I create a new directory using mkdir I have to cd to change to it. Is there a single command solution to create and switch to the directory just created?

Right now I do:

mkdir php5
cd php5

can I do:

mkdir -someswitch php5

I want something simple and clean. A good example is git branch somebranch which makes new branch and git checkout -b somebranch which makes and switches to new branch.

Crozier

Interesting, but I doubt there is. I don't see anything on man mkdir or mkdir --help. – Upstanding

You could write a simple shell script to do that. – Covering

Answer 1

The portable way to do this is with a shell function--not a bash function (using bashims like function). Put this in the relevant .profile for interactive use:

 mkdir () {
    case $1 in
       (-c) command mkdir -p "$2" && cd "$2";;
       (*)  command mkdir "$@";;
    esac
 }

This adds the -c option to mkdir for interactive use. Without -c the utility acts as it always does.- And note the quoting of "$2" so this works with directories with white space in their name.

Valaree

But wouldn't it call itself recursively ad infinitum? – Bohannan

@Bohannan No, due to the command, which is the POSIX way to express "I want to execute the simple command of that name." This skips any alias or function of the same name, should one be defined. See also pubs.opengroup.org/onlinepubs/9699919799/utilities/command.html – Valaree

What is the distinction between a "shell function" and a "bash function"? – Botheration

@WilliamPursell A bash function uses bashisms, like the function keyword used in another answer, while a shell function does not. – Valaree

Answer 2

Found some magic:

mkdir foo && cd $_

Winifred

this should be on top – Multifoliate

Answer 3

nothing prevents you from creating your own alias or small script

mkdir $1 && cd $1

Nodababus

Well, a small script is not as easy as it seems. Upon exiting the script, the PWD would be restored. – Vardon

mkdir -p is much better. – Candelabra

Answer 4

Or you can use ';' to separate commands, like:

mkdir php5.3 ; cd php5.3

Anthea

This will give you two errors if creating the directory fails. – Walkthrough

Answer 5

Shortest and fastest :

cd (mkdir your_folder) 

Coopt

Answer 6

this is what I've been using, not sure if it's in best practices but it works.

function mk() {
    $file = $args[0]
    mkdir $file | cd
}

Permanency

Answer 7

You can define a function in bash to do this:

function mkcd() {
    mkdir $1 && eval cd $1
}

Walkthrough

It prevents expansion of the argument before it's passed to cd. This will allow it to work with directory names that contain weird characters. – Walkthrough

But $1 is expanded before eval is executed. This can't possible do what you think it does. – Valaree

@LarsKotthoff: Sorry, I don't get it. IMO, for that you should use quotes: mkdir "$1" && cd "$1". If something, eval will make impossible to cd into directories with $ in their name. – Bohannan

Answer 8

A close answer that can help. It is easy to type.

 mkdir php7 && cd !$ 

Fluffy

I wonder why this is not working on my shell. I have a bash shell though. – Calk