Error with cd Command with "-=" in the Target Directory's Name
bash, cd, command-line-interface, linux
Solution
Use `cd --` or prefix `./` before your directory name.
cd -- file_path_to\\-\=\ directory_name
OR
cd ./file_path_to\\-\=\ directory_name
Otherwise `-` is considered an option to `cd` command.
Problem
I came across an interesting phenomenon when trying to use the 'cd' command with some of my directories. I have named a number of my directories "-= [name]" so that they will be sorted to the top when I sort by name on a Windows machine at work. At home, I use a Linux machine. I use a USB stick to carry files between the two machines. I find I could not get into my directories that have names in form of "-= [name]" using 'cd' command. The tab auto-complete does recognize the directory, and give the correct form. So the cd command would look something like this: ``` cd \-\=\ directory_name ``` However, I keep getting the following error message: ``` bash: cd: -=: invalid option cd: usage: cd [-L|[-P [-e]] [-@]] [dir]. ``` Does anyone know me what's going on here? I know I can just change the names of my directories. But, I'm curious what's going on with the cd command. File managers are able to open up the directory with no problems.