Directories

A directory is a unique type of file that contains only the information needed to access files or other directories. As a result, a directory occupies less space than other types of files.

File systems consist of groups of directories and the files within the directories. File systems are commonly represented as an inverted tree. The root directory, denoted by the slash (/) symbol, defines a file system and appears at the top of a file system tree diagram.

Directories branch downward from the root directory in the tree diagram and can contain both files and subdirectories. Branching creates unique paths through the directory structure to every object in the file system.

Collections of files are stored in directories. These collections of files are often related to each other; storing them in a structure of directories keeps them organized.

A file is a collection of data that can be read from or written to. A file can be a program you create, text you write, data you acquire, or a device you use. Commands, printers, terminals, correspondence, and application programs are all stored in files. This allows users to access diverse elements of the system in a uniform way and gives great flexibility to the file system.

Directories let you group files and other directories to organize the file system into a modular hierarchy, which gives the file system structure flexibility and depth.

Directories contain directory entries. Each entry contains a file or subdirectory name and an index node reference number (i-node number). To increase speed and enhance use of disk space, the data in a file is stored at various locations in the memory of the computer. The i-node number contains the addresses used to locate all the scattered blocks of data associated with a file. The i-node number also records other information about the file, including times of modification and access, access modes, number of links, file owner, and file type.

A special set of commands controls directories. For example, you can link several names for a file to the same i-node number by creating directory entries with the ln command.

Because directories often contain information that should not be available to all users of the system, directory access can be protected. By setting a directory's permissions, you can control who has access to the directory, also determining which users (if any) can alter information within the directory.