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tree — Directory Tree Listing

The tree command displays directories and files in a hierarchical, tree-like format.

Unlike ls, which shows a flat list, tree visualizes the full structure of a directory.
This makes it extremely useful for:

  • WordPress structure inspection
  • Backup validation
  • Security audits
  • Plugin/theme analysis
  • Documentation and reporting

If you need to understand how folders are organized at a glance, tree is the right tool.

1. Installation & Verification

tree is not always installed by default.

Install (Ubuntu/Debian)​

sudo apt update && sudo apt install tree -y

Check Installation​

which tree

Expected output:

/usr/bin/tree

Check Version​

tree --version

Important WordPress Paths​

  • /var/www/html/ → WordPress root
  • /var/www/html/wp-content/plugins/
  • /var/www/html/wp-content/themes/
  • /var/www/html/wp-content/uploads/

2. Core Syntax

tree [OPTIONS] [DIRECTORY]

If no directory is specified, tree runs in the current directory.

Example:

tree

3. Why Use tree Instead of ls

lstree
Flat listHierarchical layout
Good for file inspectionGood for structural inspection
FastVisual
Minimal formattingStructured branches

For large WordPress installations, tree helps you understand plugin/theme layout instantly.

4. Core Practical Options (Most Useful First)

Limit Depth (-L N)​

tree -L 2 /var/www/html

Shows only two levels deep.

Best practice: always limit depth on large directories.

Directories Only (-d)​

tree -d /var/www/html/wp-content

Shows only folders, not files.

Useful for checking:

  • Plugin names
  • Theme folders
  • Upload year/month structure

Show Hidden Files (-a)​

tree -a /var/www/html

Reveals:

  • .htaccess
  • .user.ini
  • .env

Critical for debugging WordPress configuration issues.

Show Full Path (-f)​

tree -f /var/www/html

Displays absolute paths.

Useful for migration scripts or automation.

Exclude Pattern (-I)​

tree -I "*.log" /var/www/html

Ignores matching patterns.

Helpful for:

  • Ignoring logs
  • Skipping cache directories
  • Reducing noise

Color Output (-C)​

tree -C

Colorizes output for readability.

5. File Information Options

Show Permissions (-p)​

tree -p /var/www/html

Displays Unix permission bits.

Useful for WordPress security audits.

Show Owner (-u)​

tree -u /var/www/html

Detects ownership issues (e.g., root vs www-data).

Show Group (-g)​

tree -g /var/www/html

Confirms correct group assignments.

Show File Size (-s)​

tree -s

Displays file sizes in bytes.

Human-Readable Sizes (-h)​

tree -sh

Shows KB/MB/GB.

Show Directory Cumulative Size (--du)​

tree --du -h /var/www/html/wp-content

Displays total size per directory.

Excellent for:

  • Finding large upload folders
  • Identifying storage-heavy plugins

Show Inodes (--inodes)​

tree --inodes

Useful when debugging inode exhaustion.

6. Sorting & Display Control

Sort by Modification Time (-t)​

tree -t

Recent files first.

Useful for:

  • Detecting recent hacks
  • Tracking updated plugins

Reverse Order (-r)​

tree -r

Oldest files first.

Natural Version Sorting (-v)​

tree -v backups

Sorts numerically:

backup1
backup2
backup10

Directories First (--dirsfirst)​

tree --dirsfirst

Improves readability in WordPress root.

Stay on Same Filesystem (-x)​

tree -x /

Prevents crossing into mounted drives.

Useful in backup scans.

7. Exporting Output

JSON Output (-J)​

tree -J /var/www/html > wp-tree.json

Machine-readable output.

XML Output (-X)​

tree -X /var/www/html > wp-tree.xml

Enterprise integrations.

HTML Output (-H)​

tree -H . /var/www/html > report.html

Generates browsable HTML report.

Write to File (-o)​

tree -L 2 /var/www/html -o wp-structure.txt

Save structure snapshot.

8. WordPress VPS Practical Examples

Inspect WordPress root structure​

tree -L 2 /var/www/html

Show plugin directories only​

tree -d /var/www/html/wp-content/plugins

Find large uploads folder​

tree --du -h /var/www/html/wp-content/uploads

Security audit view​

tree -pug /var/www/html

Shows:

  • Permissions
  • Owner
  • Group

Export site structure to file​

tree -L 3 /var/www/html -o site-structure.txt

9. Benefits

  • Clear visual hierarchy
  • Faster structural debugging
  • Useful for documentation
  • Supports JSON/XML/HTML export
  • Ideal for WordPress audits

10. Best Practices

  • Always use -L on large directories.
  • Use -I to exclude logs and cache.
  • Combine -pugsh for audit reports.
  • Redirect output to file for documentation.
  • Avoid running on / without -L.

11. Troubleshooting

ProblemCauseFix
-----
Too many linesNo depth limitUse -L
Hidden files missing-a not usedAdd -a
Permission deniedInsufficient rightsUse sudo
No colorsTerminal limitationUse -C

12. Cheat Sheet

tree -L 2                 # Limit depth
tree -d                   # Directories only
tree -a                   # Show hidden files
tree -pugsh               # Permissions + owner + size
tree -I '*.log'           # Exclude pattern
tree --du -h              # Show cumulative sizes
tree -J                   # JSON output
tree -H . > report.html   # HTML report

13. Final Perspective

tree is a visualization tool for filesystem hierarchy.

In WordPress VPS environments, it helps you:

  • Understand structure quickly
  • Audit permissions
  • Track large folders
  • Document site layout
  • Detect anomalies

If ls is inspection, tree is architecture visualization.

Mini Knowledge Check​

  1. What does tree -d show?
  2. How do you limit depth to 2 levels?
  3. Which option shows cumulative directory sizes?
  4. How do you generate an HTML report?