What is the purpose of the 'mv' command?

The 'mv' command is used to move or rename files in a Linux environment. When you use 'mv' followed by the source file and the target location or name, it transfers the file from its original position to the new one. If the target is a different name in the same directory, 'mv' effectively renames the file. For example, running mv file1.txt file2.txt would rename 'file1.txt' to 'file2.txt'. If you specify a different directory, it will move the file to that location, removing it from the original directory.

This command is fundamental in file management within Linux, as it allows users to organize their files efficiently by moving them between directories or renaming them as needed. The ability to move files and rename them is essential to keeping a tidy filesystem and managing file organization effectively.