CD

Change Directory - Select a Folder (and drive)

Syntax
      CD [/D] [drive:][path]
      CD [..]

Key
   /D : change the current DRIVE in addition to changing folder.   

Examples

   To change to the parent directory.
   CD .. 
   
   To change to the grant-parent directory.
   CD ..\..
   
   To change to the ROOT directory.
   CD \ 
   
   To display the current directory in the specified drive. 
   Type CD <drive>: 
   
   To display the current drive and directory.
   CD
   
   Moving down the folder tree with a full path reference to the ROOT folder...
   C:\winnt> CD \winnt\java
   C:\winnt\java> 
   
   Moving down the folder tree with a reference RELATIVE to the current folder...
   C:\winnt> CD java
   C:\winnt\java> 
   
   Moving up and down the folder tree in one command...
   C:\winnt\java> CD ..\system32
   C:\winnt\system32>

If Command Extensions are enabled the CD command is enhanced as follows:

1)
The current directory string is converted to use the correct CASE.
So CD C:\wiNnt would actually set the current directory to C:\Winnt

2)
CD does not treat spaces as delimiters, so it is possible to CD into a subfolder name that contains a space without surrounding the name with quotes.

For example:
cd \My folder

is the same as:
cd "\My folder"

3)
An asterisk can be used to complete a folder name
e.g. from C:\

CD pro*
will move to
C:\Program Files

CHDIR is a synonym for CD

Tab Completion

This allows changing current folder by entering part of the path and pressing TAB

   C:> CD Prog [PRESS TAB] 
   Will go to C:\Program Files\

Tab Completion is disabled by default, it has been known to create difficulty when using a batch script to process text files that contain TAB characters.

Tab Completion is turned on by setting the registry value shown below

REGEDIT4
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Command Processor]
"CompletionChar"=dword:00000009

Changing the Current drive

simply enter the drive letter followed by a colon
C:> E:
E:>

To change drive and directory at the same time, use CD with the /D switch
C:> cd /D E:\utils
E:\utils\>

"Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or the present are certain to miss the future" - John F. Kennedy

Related commands:

You can also change directory using the pushd command
Q156276 - Cmd does not support UNC names as the current directory
JSI Tip - Folder navigation

Equivalent Linux BASH commands:

cd - Change Directory
pwd - Print Working Directory