When working with Linux, understanding the Filesystem Hierarchy Standard (FHS) is essential. Unlike Windows, which divides data into multiple drives (C:, D:, etc.), Linux follows a structured, single-rooted system. Let’s explore its core directories and their significance!
🌱 The Root Directory (/) – The Foundation of Linux
At the top of the hierarchy is /, the root directory. Every file and directory in Linux originates from this point. It contains all essential system directories, configuration files, and user data.
Everything in Linux is a file, whether it's a text document, a directory, a hardware device, or a running process.
📂 Key Directories in Linux
1️⃣ /bin – Essential User Binaries 💻
- Stores essential system executables required for basic operations and booting.
- Available for all users, even in single-user mode.
-
Examples:
ls,cp,mv,grep,cat,echo,rm.
2️⃣ /sbin – System Binaries 🔧
- Contains administrative commands for system management.
- Requires root privileges to execute most commands.
-
Examples:
shutdown,reboot,fsck,fdisk,iptables,mkfs.
3️⃣ /etc – Configuration Files ⚙️
- Houses system-wide configuration files and scripts.
- Modifying files here requires administrative privileges.
-
Examples:
-
/etc/fstab– Defines filesystem mount points. -
/etc/passwd– Stores user account information. -
/etc/hostname– Defines the system hostname. -
/etc/network/interfaces– Manages network configurations.
-
4️⃣ /home – User Home Directories 🏠
- Stores personal directories for each user.
- Each user gets their own space:
/home/username/. - Contains:
-
Documents📄 -
Downloads📥 -
Pictures🖼️ -
Videos🎥 -
.bashrc(custom shell configurations).
-
5️⃣ /root – Root User’s Home Directory 🌳
- Dedicated home directory for the superuser (root).
- Provides a secure workspace, separate from standard user directories.
⚠️ Never use root for daily tasks!
6️⃣ /var – Variable Data 🔄
- Stores frequently changing files, such as logs, mail, and databases.
-
Examples:
-
/var/log/– System and application logs 📜. -
/var/spool/– Mail queue & printer jobs 📩🖨️. -
/var/cache/– Temporary application cache data ⚡.
-
7️⃣ /tmp – Temporary Files 🗑️
- Stores temporary files created by applications and the system.
- Often cleared automatically on reboot.
8️⃣ /usr – User Applications & Libraries 📚
A large directory divided into subdirectories:
-
/usr/bin/– Common user applications (e.g.,vim,nano,wget). -
/usr/sbin/– System administration binaries (e.g.,apachectl). -
/usr/local/– Manually installed software.
9️⃣ /lib & /lib64 – System Libraries 📦
- Holds shared libraries (
.sofiles) required by binaries in/binand/sbin. -
Examples:
-
/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/libc.so.6– Standard C library. -
/lib/modules/– Kernel modules and drivers.
-
🔟 /opt – Optional Software 🌟
- Used for third-party or manually installed software.
- Common for commercial apps like Google Chrome, Oracle Java, and proprietary drivers.
1️⃣1️⃣ /mnt & /media – Mount Points 🖥️
- /mnt/ – Temporary mount point for system administrators.
- /media/ – Auto-mounted external devices like USBs, CDs, and SD cards.
1️⃣2️⃣ /dev – Device Files 🔌
- Special files representing hardware devices.
-
Examples:
-
/dev/sda– First hard drive. 💾 -
/dev/null– Discard anything written to it. 🗑️ -
/dev/random– Generates random data. 🎲
-
1️⃣3️⃣ /proc & /sys – Kernel & Process Information 🧠
-
/proc/ – A virtual file system with real-time system information.
- Examples:
-
/proc/cpuinfo– CPU details. 🖥️ -
/proc/meminfo– Memory usage. 💾 -
/proc/[PID]– Process details.
- /sys/ – Exposes kernel and hardware configurations.
1️⃣4️⃣ /run – Runtime Data ⚡
- Stores system-wide runtime data (e.g., PIDs, sockets).
- Data here is deleted on reboot.
1️⃣5️⃣ /srv – Service Data 🏗️
- Stores data for system services (e.g., web servers, FTP).
- Example:
/srv/http/for a web server’s root directory.
1️⃣6️⃣ /lost+found – Recovered Files 🛠️
- Used by the
fsckutility for recovering lost files. - Appears in each partition with a Linux filesystem.
🎯 Why Understanding the Linux Filesystem Matters?
✅ Better system navigation – Move around efficiently.
✅ Enhanced troubleshooting skills – Fix errors quickly.
✅ Security awareness – Prevent unauthorized modifications.
✅ Performance optimization – Manage resources effectively.
📌 Conclusion 🎯
The Linux file system is structured for organization, security, and efficiency. Whether you're a beginner or an expert, mastering this hierarchy will make you a better Linux user!
🛠️ Keep exploring, keep learning! 🚀
Top comments (6)
Great article! This deep dive into the Linux file hierarchy really clarifies how everything is organized. I especially appreciate the explanations of the less common directories like /proc and /sys. It's much easier to navigate and troubleshoot now. Thanks for sharing this valuable resource!
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