What does the command 'cd' do in a Unix-like operating system?

The command 'cd' stands for "change directory," and its primary purpose is to change the current working directory to a different location in the file system. When you issue the 'cd' command followed by the path to a directory, the terminal updates the current directory context to the specified path. This allows users to navigate through the file system and access different directories and their contents.

For example, if a user is in the home directory and wants to switch to a directory called 'Documents,' they would use the command 'cd Documents.' After issuing this command, any further operations like listing files or executing scripts would occur within the 'Documents' directory instead of the original location.

This command is essential for organizing and managing files in Unix-like operating systems, as it enables users to move to different locations in the file system structure as needed.