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# Linux touch Command [ Linux Command Manual](#) The Linux touch command is used to modify the time attributes of a file or directory, including access time and modification time. If the file does not exist, the system will create a new file. `ls -l` can display the time records of a file. ### Syntax touch [file or directory…] * **Parameter Description**: * a Change the file's access time record. * m Change the file's modification time record. * c If the target file does not exist, do not create a new file. Same effect as --no-create. * f Not used, retained for compatibility with other Unix systems. * r Use the time record of a reference file, same effect as --file. * d Set the time and date, can use various formats. * t Set the file's time record, format is the same as the date command. * --no-create Do not create a new file. * --help List the command format. * --version List version information. ### Example Use the "touch" command to modify the time attributes of the file "testfile" to the current system time, enter the following command: $ touch testfile #Modify the file's time attributes First, use the ls command to view the attributes of testfile, as shown below: $ ls -l testfile #View the file's time attributes #Original file modification time was 16:09 -rw-r--r-- 1 hdd hdd 55 2011-08-22 16:09 testfile After executing the "touch" command to modify the file attributes, view the file's time attributes again, as shown below: $ touch testfile #Modify file time attributes to current system time $ ls -l testfile #View the file's time attributes #Modified file time attributes are now current system time -rw-r--r-- 1 hdd hdd 55 2011-08-22 19:53 testfile When using the "touch" command, if the specified file does not exist, it will create a new blank file. For example, in the current directory, use this command to create a blank file named "file", enter the following command: $ touch file #Create a new blank file named "file" [ Linux Command Manual](#)