Linux Filesystem is a tree-like structure comprised of lots of directories.
Linux makes no difference between the files and directories.
- Normal or Ordinary files that contain data, text, images, program instructions.
- Device or Special files that give access to hardware devices.
- Directories that contain both the ordinary and special files. These directories are just the files containing the list of other files.
Check the File Type
List all the files and directories by using ls -l command.
first column: file type and file permissions. Every file row begins with the file type and then specifies the access permissions associated with the files.
| File Type | Description |
|---|---|
| d | Directory file |
| - | Normal file |
| l | Link file |
| c | Character special file |
| b | Block special file |
s socket file c,b,s — represent system files and used by super user / system administrator
second column: number of links.
third column: owner of the file or the superuser, who has the administrating power.
fourth column: group of owner/superuser.
fifth column: file size.
sixth column: date and time when the file was created or lastly modified.
last column: name of the file or the directory.
