What does the command 'ls -a' show?

The command 'ls -a' is designed to list all files and directories in the current directory, including hidden ones. In Unix-like operating systems, hidden files and directories are typically those whose names begin with a dot (.). The '-a' option stands for "all," which means that it will show all entries, including those that are hidden.

When you run 'ls -a', you will see not only the regular files and directories but also special ones that are otherwise not visible with the standard 'ls' command. This includes entries like '.' (the current directory) and '..' (the parent directory), which are present in every directory.

While the other options mention different aspects of file listing, they do not encompass the full scope of what 'ls -a' provides. Only 'ls -a' captures both visible and hidden files and directories in its list, making it the most comprehensive choice in this context.