UNIX File System::

A file is the basic structure used to store information on the UNIX system.The UNIX file system provides a logical method for organizing,storing,retreiving,manipulating and information.

A file can store manuscripts and other word processing documents, instructions or programs for the computer itself, an organized database of business information, a bitmap description of a screen image, or any other kind of information stored as sequence of bytes on a computer.

With in UNIX, there are three different types of files ::

1. Regular Files
2. Directory Files
3. Special Files

Regular Files

As a user, the information that you work with will be stored as an ordinary file.Ordinary files/Regualr file aggregates of characters that are treated as a unit by the UNIX system.

A Regualr file can contain normal ASCII characters such as text for manuscripts or programs.Ordinary file can be created, changed, or deletedas you wish.

Directory Files

Directory is a file that holds other files and contain information about the locations and attributes of these other files.For example a directory includes a list of all the files and sub directories that it contains, as well as their addresses, characteristics, file types and other attributes.