Linux Commands in brief - File structure and meanings

By EssingtonITS team ·

Discover the Linux file structure and understand the purpose of each directory, from essential binaries to user files and system configurations. Ideal for beginners looking to navigate and manage their Linux system effectively.

 

Directory

Description

/

The root of the entire filesystem, serving as the starting point for all other directories.

/bin

Contains essential command binaries that are needed for booting the system and performing basic operations.

/sbin

Houses essential system binaries, typically reserved for the root user to perform administrative tasks.

/boot

Contains static files needed by the boot loader, such as the kernel and initial ramdisk images.

/dev

Holds device files that represent hardware components, allowing software to interact with them.

/proc

A virtual filesystem providing a mechanism to access kernel information and control processes.

/etc

Stores system-wide configuration files and directories for all installed programmes.

/lib

Contains essential shared libraries and kernel modules that support the binaries in /bin and /sbin.

/media

Designated as a mount point for removable media such as USB drives, CDs, and DVDs.

/mnt

Used for temporarily mounting filesystems, often for maintenance or testing purposes.

/opt

Houses additional software packages that are not part of the standard file hierarchy.

/srv

Contains data for services offered by the system, such as web or FTP servers.

/tmp

A space for temporary files that may be deleted upon system reboot or after a certain period.

/home

Dedicated to storing users' personal files and directories, providing a separate space for each user.

/root

The home directory for the root user, where administrative tasks are often performed.

/usr

Contains user applications, libraries, and documentation, not essential for the system's initial boot.

/var

Holds variable data files such as logs, databases, and spool files that frequently change.

 

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