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Encyclopedia > Directory (file systems)

In computing, a directory, catalog, or folder[1] is an entity in a file system which contains a group of files and/or other directories. A typical file system may contain thousands (or even hundreds of thousands) of directories. Files are kept organized by storing related files in the same directory. A directory contained inside another directory is called a subdirectory of that directory. Together, the directories form a hierarchy, or tree structure. For the formal concept of computation, see computation. ... For library and office filing systems, see Library classification. ... A hierarchy (in Greek: , derived from — hieros, sacred, and — arkho, rule) is a system of ranking and organizing things or people, where each element of the system (except for the top element) is a subordinate to a single other element. ...

Contents

Overview

A computer's file system can be visualized as a file cabinet, where high-level directories are represented by the drawers and lower-level subdirectories may be represented as file folders within the drawers.


Historically, and even on some modern embedded devices, the filesystems either have no support for directories at all or only have a flat directory structure, meaning subdirectories are not allowed; there is only a group of top-level directories each containing files. The first popular fully general hierarchical filesystem was that of UNIX. This type of filesystem was an early research interest of Dennis Ritchie. An embedded system is a special-purpose computer system, which is completely encapsulated by the device it controls. ... Filiation of Unix and Unix-like systems Unix (officially trademarked as UNIX®, sometimes also written as or ® with small caps) is a computer operating system originally developed in 1969 by a group of AT&T employees at Bell Labs including Ken Thompson, Dennis Ritchie and Douglas McIlroy. ... Dennis Ritchie Dennis MacAlistair Ritchie (born September 9, 1941) is a computer scientist notable for his influence on ALTRAN, B, BCPL, C, Multics, and Unix. ...


In modern times in Unix-like systems, especially Linux, directory structure is defined by the Filesystem Hierarchy Standard. Diagram of the relationships between several Unix-like systems A Unix-like operating system is one that behaves in a manner similar to a Unix system, while not necessarily conforming to or being certified to any version of the Single UNIX Specification. ... This article is about operating systems that use the Linux kernel. ... The Filesystem Hierarchy Standard (FHS) defines the main directories and their contents in Linux and other Unix-like computer operating systems. ...


In many operating systems, programs have an associated current working directory in which they execute. Typically filenames accessed by the program are assumed to reside within this directory if the filenames are not specified with an explicit directory name. An operating system (OS) is the software that manages the sharing of the resources of a computer and provides programmers with an interface used to access those resources. ... For computer operating systems that support a hierarchial file system, the working directory is the directory path that a user or program has designated to be the directory for files referenced by name only, or by a relative path (as contrasted with using both a files name and a...


Some operating systems restrict a user's access to only their home directory or project directory, thus isolating their activities from all other users. In computing, a home directory is a directory which contains the personal files of a particular user of the system. ...


On Unix, directories are regarded as a type of file.[2]


The folder metaphor

The name folder, presenting an analogy to the file folder used in offices, is common on most modern operating systems' desktop environments including Mac OS, Mac OS X, Microsoft Windows, and many environments for BSD and Linux. Folders are often depicted with icons which visually resemble physical file folders. Hanging file folders A file folder is a kind of folder that holds loose papers together for organization and protection. ... An operating system (OS) is the software that manages the sharing of the resources of a computer and provides programmers with an interface used to access those resources. ... This article relates to both the original Classic Mac OS as well as Mac OS X, Apples more recent operating system. ... Mac OS X (pronounced ) is a line of graphical operating systems developed, marketed, and sold by Apple Inc. ... Windows redirects here. ... BSD redirects here; for other uses see BSD (disambiguation). ... This article is about operating systems that use the Linux kernel. ... Look up icon in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...


Strictly speaking, there is a difference between a directory which is a file system concept, and the graphical user interface metaphor that is used to represent it (a folder). For example, Microsoft Windows uses the concept of special folders to help present the contents of the computer to the user in a fairly consistent way that frees the user from having to deal with absolute directory paths, which can vary between versions of Windows, and between individual installations. For library and office filing systems, see Library classification. ... GUI redirects here. ... On Microsoft Windows operating systems, Special Folders are folders which are presented to the user through an interface as an abstract concept, instead of an absolute folder path. ...


References

  1. ^ "With the introduction of Windows 95, Microsoft started referring to directories as folders." (Murach's C# 2005, page 34)
  2. ^ "Everything is a File" (Unix System Administration Independent Learning)

See also

This article does not cite any references or sources. ... A filename is a special kind of string used to uniquely identify a file stored on the file system of a computer. ... The mkdir command in the Unix operating system is used to make a new directory. ... For computer operating systems that support a hierarchial file system, the working directory is the directory path that a user or program has designated to be the directory for files referenced by name only, or by a relative path (as contrasted with using both a files name and a... A web directory or link directory is a directory on the World Wide Web. ...

External links

  • Definition of directory by The Linux Information Project (LINFO)
  • Superlist of directory


 

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