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Linux directory structure

Linux directory structure is organized in a hierarchical tree-like structure, with the root directory at the top of the tree. The directories contain files and subdirectories, and each file and directory has its own unique path within the hierarchy.

Here is a breakdown of the most important directories and their purposes:

  • / (root directory) - The top level directory of the file system.

  • /bin - Contains essential user binaries, such as the command-line interpreter and other basic system utilities.

  • /boot - Contains files needed for booting the system, such as the Linux kernel and bootloader configuration files.

  • /dev - Contains device files that represent the system hardware and peripherals, including hard drives, USB devices, and other input/output devices.

  • /etc - Contains system configuration files, such as user accounts, network settings, and system-wide settings.

  • /home - Contains user home directories, which store personal files and settings for each user.

  • /lib - Contains shared libraries needed by system binaries and other programs.

  • /mnt - A mount point for temporarily mounting filesystems, such as external hard drives and USB drives.

  • /opt - Contains optional software packages that are not installed by default.

  • /proc - A virtual filesystem that provides information about running processes and system hardware.

  • /root - The home directory for the root user.

  • /sbin - Contains essential system binaries, such as those needed for system administration.

  • /tmp - A directory for temporary files created by programs and scripts.

  • /usr - Contains user binaries, libraries, and documentation for installed software.

  • /var - Contains variable data files that are expected to grow in size during normal system operation, such as log files and system mail.

Here are some code examples to demonstrate navigating and working with the Linux directory structure:

To change to the root directory:

bash
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cd /

To list the contents of the root directory:

bash
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ls /

To navigate to the home directory of the current user:

bash
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cd ~

To create a new directory in the current directory:

bash
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mkdir mydirectory

To delete a file:

bash
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rm myfile.txt

To move a file from one directory to another:

bash
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mv /path/to/myfile.txt /path/to/newdirectory/

To copy a file from one directory to another:

bash
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cp /path/to/myfile.txt /path/to/newdirectory/

These are just a few examples of the many commands and actions you can perform in the Linux directory structure.



Next: Installing Linux and configuring your system

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