The touch command in Linux explained
The touch command creates an empty file or updates a file's timestamp. It is one of the most useful commands for anyone using a live USB drive or a fresh Linux install.
Syntax
touch filename
Examples
touch notes.txt: create an empty file
Tip
It is a quick way to make files for testing other commands.
Keep learning
New to the terminal? Start with Linux terminal basics. You can try every command safely from a live session: see how to try Linux without installing it. Run man touch in a terminal for the full manual.
Frequently asked questions
How do I see every option for touch?
Run man touch for the full manual, or try touch --help for a short summary.
Do I need sudo to run touch?
Not for your own files. You only need sudo when the command changes something owned by the system or another user.
Is it safe to practise touch on a live USB drive?
Mostly yes, because a live session starts fresh each time. Be careful with commands that write to your internal disk, such as rm on a mounted drive or dd.