How to Open Files with Dashed Filenames

In many operating systems, especially Unix-like environments such as Linux and macOS, working with filenames that contain dashes can be puzzling or error-prone for users unfamiliar with how the command line or scripts interpret these characters. Dashes in filenames may be interpreted as command-line options rather than part of the actual filename, leading to unexpected behavior or frustrating errors if not handled correctly.

TL;DR: Filenames containing dashes (e.g., report-final.txt) can confuse command-line tools into thinking they’re options. To open or manipulate such files safely, wrap the filename in quotes or precede it with ./ or —. When scripting, always validate