Understanding the Linux Filesystem: Structure and Key Components
The Linux filesystem is a robust and flexible structure that organizes data on storage devices. At its core, it follows a hierarchical tree structure, with the root directory (/) as the starting point. Unlike other operating systems, Linux uses a unified filesystem where all devices, including hard drives, USBs, and even network shares, are treated as files and mounted into the directory tree. Key components include directories like /home for user data, /etc for system configuration files, and /var for variable data. The filesystem supports different file types and file systems like ext4, XFS, and Btrfs, offering features such as journaling for data integrity, security permissions, and efficient storage management. Understanding the Linux filesystem is essential for system administrators and users, as it enables effective file organization, management, and troubleshooting.