Some of the main directory structures used by popular operating systems:
Unix/Linux Filesystem (Hierarchical Directory Structure):
Unix and Linux-based systems follow a hierarchical directory structure, starting from the root directory (“/”). Each directory can contain files and subdirectories, forming a tree-like structure. Some notable directories include:
- /bin: Contains essential executable binaries (commands) for the system and users.
- /etc: Stores system configuration files.
- /home: Home directories of individual users.
- /lib: Shared libraries required by binaries in /bin and /sbin.
- /usr: User programs and data, typically read-only, with subdirectories like /usr/bin, /usr/lib, etc.
- /var: Variable files, such as logs, spool files, and temporary data.
- /tmp: Temporary files.
Windows Filesystem (Drive Letters and Backslashes):
Windows operating systems use drive letters (e.g., C:, D:, etc.) to represent different storage devices, and each drive has its own independent directory structure. The main directories on each drive are:
- C:\Windows: Contains the Windows operating system files.
- C:\Program Files: Stores installed software and applications.
- C:\Users: Home directories of individual users.
macOS Filesystem (Similar to Unix):
macOS, being Unix-based, shares a lot of similarities with Unix/Linux filesystems. Its main directories include:
- /Applications: Stores applications installed on the system.
- /System: Contains the macOS operating system files.
- /Users: Home directories of individual users.
Android Filesystem (Based on Linux):
Android devices use a Linux-based filesystem with some modifications specific to the Android system. Important directories include:
- /system: Contains Android OS files.
- /data: Stores user data and app-specific data.
- /sdcard: Represents the external storage (often an SD card) mounted as a directory.
DOS Filesystem (8.3 File Naming Convention):
Older DOS-based systems used a simpler file naming convention, allowing filenames with a maximum of 8 characters followed by a 3-character extension. The root directory was represented by “C:” or similar. However, modern versions of Windows still support this legacy naming convention for backward compatibility.
iOS Filesystem (Sandboxes for Apps):
iOS devices use a unique filesystem where each app runs in its own sandboxed environment. Each app has its own directory for storing its data, and apps cannot directly access files from other apps.