The Linux Directory Structure
Unlike Windows, which uses drive letters (C:, D:), Linux uses a unified directory structure starting from a single root directory (/). This structure is standardized by the FHS.
Key Directories to Memorize
| Directory | Purpose |
|---|---|
| / | The Root directory. All files and directories start here. |
| /home | Contains personal directories for all non-root users (e.g., /home/john). |
| /root | The home directory for the special administrative user (root). |
| /bin | Essential user binaries (executable programs like ls, cat). |
| /sbin | Essential system binaries (administrative programs like fdisk). |
| /etc | System-wide configuration files (e.g., networking, users, passwords). |
| /var | Variable data, often temporary, like system logs (/var/log). |
| /tmp | Temporary files that can be deleted upon reboot. |
| /usr | Secondary hierarchy for user programs, libraries, documentation (largest section). |
| /mnt, /media | Mount points for temporary filesystems (USB drives, CD-ROMs). |
Key Takeaway: Everything in Linux starts at /.