Linux ls Command: Sort Files By Size
How do I sort all *.avi or *.py files in $HOME/Download/ directory by file size using Linux ls command line utility?
The ls command is used to list directory contents under Linux and Unix like operating systems. If no options or operands are given, the contents of the current directory are displayed on the screen. By default entries are sorted alphabetically if none of the -cftuvSUX nor --sort option passed to the ls command.
The default output (sort by alphabetically)
Type the following command:$ ls
$ ls *.py
$ ls *.avi
Sample outputs:
Force sort by size option
You need to pass the -s or --sort=size option as follows:$ ls -s
$ ls --sort=size
$ ls --sort=size *.avi
$ ls -s *.avi
Sample outputs:
You will see largest file first before sorting the operands in lexicographical order. The following command will sort file size in reverse order:
$ ls -l -S | sort -k 5 -n
OR try (see comments below, thanks!):
$ ls -lSr
Sample outputs: