Linux Directory Structure

The document outlines the standard directory structure and purpose of each directory in a Linux file system. The root directory is represented by "/" and contains all other directories. Essential system directories include /bin and /sbin for essential user and system binaries, /etc for configuration files, /dev for device files, /proc for process information, /var for log files and temporary files, /tmp for temporary user files, /usr for user programs, /home for user home directories, /boot for boot loader files, /lib for core system libraries, /opt for optional add-on applications, /mnt and /media for mounting removable drives, and /srv for server service data.

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Linux Directory Structure

Uploaded by

Ernesto Colchado

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Linux Directory Structure (File System Structure) Explained with Examples

1. / Root

Every single file and directory starts from the root directory.
Only root user has write privilege under this directory.
Please note that /root is root users home directory, which is not same as /.

2. /bin User Binaries

Contains binary executables.

Common linux commands you need to use in single-user modes are located under this directory.
Commands used by all the users of the system are located here.
For example: ps, ls, ping, grep, cp.

3. /sbin System Binaries

Just like /bin, /sbin also contains binary executables.

But, the linux commands located under this directory are used typically by system aministrator,
for system maintenance purpose.
For example: iptables, reboot, fdisk, ifconfig, swapon

4. /etc Configuration Files

Contains configuration files required by all programs.

This also contains startup and shutdown shell scripts used to start/stop individual programs.
For example: /etc/resolv.conf, /etc/logrotate.conf

5. /dev Device Files

Contains device files.

These include terminal devices, usb, or any device attached to the system.
For example: /dev/tty1, /dev/usbmon0

6. /proc Process Information

Contains information about system process.

This is a pseudo filesystem contains information about running process. For example: /proc/{pid}
directory contains information about the process with that particular pid.
This is a virtual filesystem with text information about system resources. For example:
/proc/uptime

7. /var Variable Files

var stands for variable files.

Content of the files that are expected to grow can be found under this directory.
This includes system log files (/var/log); packages and database files (/var/lib); emails
(/var/mail); print queues (/var/spool); lock files (/var/lock); temp files needed across reboots
(/var/tmp);

8. /tmp Temporary Files

Directory that contains temporary files created by system and users.

Files under this directory are deleted when system is rebooted.

9. /usr User Programs

Contains binaries, libraries, documentation, and source-code for second level programs.
/usr/bin contains binary files for user programs. If you cant find a user binary under /bin, look
under /usr/bin. For example: at, awk, cc, less, scp
/usr/sbin contains binary files for system administrators. If you cant find a system binary under
/sbin, look under /usr/sbin. For example: atd, cron, sshd, useradd, userdel
/usr/lib contains libraries for /usr/bin and /usr/sbin
/usr/local contains users programs that you install from source. For example, when you install
apache from source, it goes under /usr/local/apache2

10. /home Home Directories

Home directories for all users to store their personal files.

For example: /home/john, /home/nikita

11. /boot Boot Loader Files

Contains boot loader related files.

Kernel initrd, vmlinux, grub files are located under /boot
For example: initrd.img-2.6.32-24-generic, vmlinuz-2.6.32-24-generic

12. /lib System Libraries

Contains library files that supports the binaries located under /bin and /sbin
Library filenames are either ld* or lib*.so.*
For example: ld-2.11.1.so, libncurses.so.5.7