command line - Move only the last 8 files in a directory to another directory - Ask Ubuntu

i'm trying move last 8 files documents directory directory, don't want move them one-by-one specific directory. possible move them substitute of tail command, directories instead of files? mean i'd tail -8 ./documents | mv ./anotherdirectory or mv tail -8 ./documents ./anotherdirectory.

in fact, i'm looking clever way move last 8 files (as listed in ls) (without typing out each name) other directory. suggestions?

you can use for, loops on files in ordered way, , allows avoid parsing output of find or ls, avoid issues spaces , other special characters in filenames. many @muru improving :)

i=0; j=$(stat ~/documents/* --printf "%i\n" | wc -l); k in ~/documents/*; if (( (j - ++i) < 8 )); echo mv -v "$k" ~/anotherdirectory; fi; done  

test first echo, remove echo move files.

as script:

#!/bin/bash i=0 j=$(stat ~/documents/* --printf "%i\n" | wc -l ) k in ~/documents/*;   if (( (j - ++i) < 8 ));     echo mv -v -- "$k" ~/anotherdirectory   fi done 

again, remove echo after testing move files real

explanation

• i=0 telling shell start iterating @ 0
• j=$(stat ~/documents/* --printf "%i\n" | wc -l ) setting variable j integer equal total number of files in directory. serg's answer own question on how count files reliably no matter characters names contain
• do if (( (j - ++i) < 8 )) each iteration of loop, test whether outcome of j minus number of times loop has been run less 8 , if then
• mv -v -- "$k" ~/anotherdirectory move file new directory