Linux Directory Structure (File System Structure) Explained
with Examples
Have you wondered why certain programs are located under /bin, or /sbin, or /usr/bin, or
/usr/sbin? For example, less command is located under /usr/bin directory. Why not /bin,
or /sbin, or /usr/sbin? What is the different between all these directories? In this article,
let us review the Linux filesystem structures and understand the meaning of individual
high- level directories.
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 user’s 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 can’t 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 can’t 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
13. /opt – Optional add-on Applications
• opt stands for optional.
• Contains add-on applications from individual vendors.
• add-on applications should be installed under either /opt/ or /opt/ sub-directory.
14. /mnt – Mount Directory
• Temporary mount directory where sysadmins can mount filesystems.
15. /media – Removable Media Devices
• Temporary mount directory for removable devices.
• For examples, /media/cdrom for CD-ROM; /media/floppy for floppy drives;
/media/cdrecorder for CD writer
16. /srv – Service Data
• srv stands for service.
• Contains server specific services related data.
• For example, /srv/cvs contains CVS related data.
