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The Linux File System

It is helpful to have an idea of the Linux file system structure to navigate the terminal effectively. The Linux file system is a hierarchical structure that starts from the root directory /. Here are some key directories in the Linux file system:

  • /: The root directory of the file system.
  • /bin: Contains essential binaries (programs) that are required for the system to boot and run.
  • /boot: Contains the Linux kernel and boot loader configuration files.
  • /dev: Contains device files that represent hardware devices connected to the system.
  • /etc: Contains system-wide configuration files.
  • /home: Contains user home directories.
  • /lib: Contains shared libraries that are required for programs to run.
  • /media: Contains mount points for removable media such as USB drives.
  • /mnt: Contains mount points for temporary file systems.
  • /opt: Contains optional software packages.
  • /proc: Contains information about system processes.
  • /root: The home directory for the root user.
  • /run: Contains system runtime data.
  • /sbin: Contains essential system binaries.
  • /srv: Contains data for services provided by the system.
  • /sys: Contains information about the system hardware.
  • /tmp: Contains temporary files.
  • /usr: Contains user binaries, libraries, and documentation.
  • /var: Contains variable data such as logs and spool files.

The most commonly used directories are /home, /usr, and /var.

When building containers, it is common to use the /app directory to store application code and assets. This directory is not a standard Linux directory but is often used in containerized applications for consistency.