pico Primer for Competitors - Shell Chapter - Got Shell? Section

Answer 3

Q.3: What does `~` mean?

A.3: The shell is parked in Q0h313th's home directory which can be accessed by `~` on the computer called `pico-2019-shell1`

Note: the full path for `~` can be expanded to `/home/Q0h313th/`

Yes, the following 2 command produce the same result, bringing you to your home directory
cd
cd ~

~ it is called tildi it used as a shortcut form root/home directories

~ is called a tilde.
It's equivalent to the home directory: /home/Q0h313th/