Skip to main content
St Louis

Back to all posts

How to Navigate Directories In Hadoop Hdfs?

Published on
3 min read
How to Navigate Directories In Hadoop Hdfs? image

Best Hadoop HDFS Tools to Buy in February 2026

1 Big Data and Hadoop: Fundamentals, tools, and techniques for data-driven success - 2nd Edition

Big Data and Hadoop: Fundamentals, tools, and techniques for data-driven success - 2nd Edition

BUY & SAVE
$27.95
Big Data and Hadoop: Fundamentals, tools, and techniques for data-driven success - 2nd Edition
2 Practical Hadoop Ecosystem: A Definitive Guide to Hadoop-Related Frameworks and Tools

Practical Hadoop Ecosystem: A Definitive Guide to Hadoop-Related Frameworks and Tools

BUY & SAVE
$32.59 $54.99
Save 41%
Practical Hadoop Ecosystem: A Definitive Guide to Hadoop-Related Frameworks and Tools
3 MapReduce Design Patterns: Building Effective Algorithms and Analytics for Hadoop and Other Systems

MapReduce Design Patterns: Building Effective Algorithms and Analytics for Hadoop and Other Systems

  • QUALITY ASSURANCE: THOROUGHLY INSPECTED FOR GOOD CONDITION.
  • ECO-FRIENDLY CHOICE: SAVE RESOURCES BY BUYING USED BOOKS.
  • AFFORDABILITY: ACCESS GREAT TITLES AT A FRACTION OF THE COST.
BUY & SAVE
$19.99 $44.99
Save 56%
MapReduce Design Patterns: Building Effective Algorithms and Analytics for Hadoop and Other Systems
4 Hadoop: The Definitive Guide: Storage and Analysis at Internet Scale

Hadoop: The Definitive Guide: Storage and Analysis at Internet Scale

BUY & SAVE
$25.21 $55.99
Save 55%
Hadoop: The Definitive Guide: Storage and Analysis at Internet Scale
5 Hadoop Application Architectures: Designing Real-World Big Data Applications

Hadoop Application Architectures: Designing Real-World Big Data Applications

BUY & SAVE
$42.99 $49.99
Save 14%
Hadoop Application Architectures: Designing Real-World Big Data Applications
6 Architecting Modern Data Platforms: A Guide to Enterprise Hadoop at Scale

Architecting Modern Data Platforms: A Guide to Enterprise Hadoop at Scale

BUY & SAVE
$52.42 $89.99
Save 42%
Architecting Modern Data Platforms: A Guide to Enterprise Hadoop at Scale
7 Hadoop in Practice: Includes 104 Techniques

Hadoop in Practice: Includes 104 Techniques

BUY & SAVE
$42.50 $49.99
Save 15%
Hadoop in Practice: Includes 104 Techniques
8 Hadoop in Practice: Includes 85 Techniques

Hadoop in Practice: Includes 85 Techniques

  • HIGH-QUALITY PRE-OWNED BOOKS AT AFFORDABLE PRICES.
  • ECO-FRIENDLY CHOICE: PROMOTE SUSTAINABILITY WITH USED BOOKS.
  • FAST SHIPPING ENSURES QUICK DELIVERY TO YOUR DOORSTEP.
BUY & SAVE
$24.90 $49.99
Save 50%
Hadoop in Practice: Includes 85 Techniques
9 Ultimate Big Data Analytics with Apache Hadoop: Master Big Data Analytics with Apache Hadoop Using Apache Spark, Hive, and Python (English Edition)

Ultimate Big Data Analytics with Apache Hadoop: Master Big Data Analytics with Apache Hadoop Using Apache Spark, Hive, and Python (English Edition)

BUY & SAVE
$28.99 $29.95
Save 3%
Ultimate Big Data Analytics with Apache Hadoop: Master Big Data Analytics with Apache Hadoop Using Apache Spark, Hive, and Python (English Edition)
+
ONE MORE?

To navigate directories in Hadoop HDFS, you can use the command line interface tools provided by Hadoop such as the hdfs dfs command. You can use commands like hdfs dfs -ls to list the contents of a directory, hdfs dfs -mkdir to create a new directory, hdfs dfs -cp to copy files or directories, hdfs dfs -mv to move files or directories, and hdfs dfs -rm to delete files or directories.

You can also navigate directories in HDFS using the Hadoop File System API if you are using a programming language like Java. This allows you to programmatically interact with the Hadoop file system, manipulate files and directories, and retrieve information about them.

Overall, navigating directories in Hadoop HDFS involves using the appropriate commands or APIs to perform operations like listing, creating, moving, copying, and deleting directories and files within the HDFS file system.

What is the difference between a file and a directory in Hadoop HDFS?

In Hadoop HDFS, a file is a collection of data that is stored as a single unit and has a unique path within the file system. A file typically contains structured or unstructured data that can be processed by various Hadoop applications.

On the other hand, a directory is a logical grouping of files and subdirectories within the file system. Directories are used to organize and manage data in a hierarchical structure, making it easier to navigate and access specific files.

In summary, a file is a unit of data stored in the HDFS, while a directory is used to organize and manage files and subdirectories within the file system.

How to check the size of a directory in Hadoop HDFS?

To check the size of a directory in Hadoop HDFS, you can use the following command in the Hadoop command line interface:

hadoop fs -du -s -h /path/to/directory

Replace /path/to/directory with the path to the directory you want to check the size of. This command will display the total size of the directory and all its subdirectories in a human-readable format. The -h flag is used to display sizes in a human-readable format, while the -s flag provides a summary of the total size instead of individual file sizes.

What is the maximum depth of directories in Hadoop HDFS?

In Hadoop HDFS, the maximum depth of directories is limited by the maximum path length allowed by the file system. By default, Hadoop HDFS supports a maximum file path length of 4,096 bytes. This means that the maximum depth of directories in Hadoop HDFS will depend on the length of directory names and the overall path structure, but it should not exceed the maximum path length limit.