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The nameless base of the file system. All other directories, files, drives, and devices are attached to this root. Commonly (but incorrectly) referred to as the “slash” or “/” directory. The “/” is just a directory separator, not a directory itself. |
| /bin |
Essential command binaries (programs) are stored here (bash, ls, mount, tar, etc.) |
| /boot |
Static files of the boot loader. |
| /dev |
Device files. In Linux, hardware devices are accessed just like other files, and they are kept under this directory. |
| /etc |
Host-specific system configuration files. |
| /home |
Location of users' personal home directories (e.g./home/dhanoop). |
| /lib |
Essential shared libraries and kernel modules. |
| /proc |
Process information pseudo-file system. An interface to kernel data structures. |
| /root |
The root (super-user) home directory. |
| /sbin |
Essential system binaries (fdisk, fsck, init, etc). |
| /tmp |
Temporary files. All users have permission to place temporary files here. |
| /usr |
The base directory for most shareable, read-only data (programs, libraries, documentation, and much more). |
| /usr/bin |
Most user programs are kept here (cc, find, du, etc.). |
| /usr/include |
Header files for compiling C programs. |
| /usr/lib |
Libraries for most binary programs. |
| /usr/local |
“Locally” installed files. This directory only really matters in environments where files are stored on the network. Locally-installed files go in /usr/local/bin, /usr/local/lib, etc.). Also often used for software packages installed from source, or software not officially shipped with the distribution. |
| /usr/sbin |
Non-vital system binaries (lpd, useradd, etc.) |
| /usr/share |
Architecture-independent data (icons, backgrounds, documentation, terminfo, man pages, etc.). |
| /usr/src |
Program source code. E.g. The Linux Kernel, source RPMs, etc. |
| /usr/X11R6 |
The X Window System. |
| /var |
Variable data: mail and printer spools, log files, lock files, etc. |