unix - what the difference betwen mkdir vs mkdir -p -

i tried create folder in local git repo using mkdir. didn't work, mkdir -p works.

why?

i'm using mac os way. checked definition of mkdir -p. still don't quite understand.

say you're in directory:

/home/users/john

and want make 3 new sub directories end with:

/home/users/john/long/dir/path

while staying in "/home/users/john", fail:

mkdir long/dir/path

you have make 3 separate calls:

mkdir long mkdir long/dir mkdir long/dir/path

the reason mkdir default creates directories 1 level down. adding "-p" flag, mkdir make entire set in 1 pass. is, while won't work:

mkdir long/dir/path

this work:

mkdir -p long/dir/path

and create 3 directories.

Lix