---
name: "mkdir"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "coreutils"
version: "9.12-2"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux", "freebsd", "openbsd", "macos"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/mkdir"
---

# mkdir(1)

make directories

## NAME

mkdir - make directories

## SYNOPSIS

**mkdir** \[*OPTION*\]... *DIRECTORY*...

## DESCRIPTION

Create the DIRECTORY(ies), if they do not already exist.

Mandatory arguments to long options are mandatory for short options too.

- **-m, --mode=MODE**

  set file mode (as in chmod), not a=rwx - umask

- **-p, --parents**

  no error if existing, make parent directories as needed, with their file modes unaffected by any **-m** option

- **-v, --verbose**

  print a message for each created directory

- **-Z**

  set SELinux security context of each created directory to the default type

- **--context\[=CTX\]**

  like **-Z**, or if CTX is specified then set the SELinux or SMACK security context to CTX

- **--help**

  display this help and exit

- **--version**

  output version information and exit

## AUTHOR

Written by David MacKenzie.

## REPORTING BUGS

Report bugs to: \<bug-coreutils@gnu.org\>.\
 Report any translation bugs to: \<https://translationproject.org/team/\>.\
 GNU coreutils home page: \<https://www.gnu.org/software/coreutils/\>\
 General help using GNU software: \<https://www.gnu.org/gethelp/\>

## COPYRIGHT

Copyright © 2026 Free Software Foundation, Inc. License GPLv3+: GNU GPL version 3 or later \<https://gnu.org/licenses/gpl.html\>.\
 This is free software: you are free to change and redistribute it. There is NO WARRANTY, to the extent permitted by law.

## SEE ALSO

[**mkdir**(2)](/mkdir/2.md)

Full documentation \<https://www.gnu.org/software/coreutils/mkdir\>\
 or available locally via: info '(coreutils) mkdir invocation'