The Digital Research Initiative
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Part Two

Files and File Systems

A file is basically a glob of information that has been given a name and stored as a unit. This is true for all computer operating systems, even though UNIX treats files a little differently (but we'll get to that later). Like other OS's, files exist inside of directories, which are essentially folders which hold files which have been grouped together by whomever created them.

Meanwhile, a file system is a collection of files and subdirectories which have been grouped together by the system administer for a specific reason. Often, this is done by splitting a server's hard disk into partitions (which is essentially like the splitting of a computer's storage house into smaller rooms) and then placing different sets of files and subdirectories into each partition according to their functions and space needs.

For example, as a UNIX user, you have your own set of personal files, such as your mail files, preference files, and any work files you may have created so far. All of tbese files--your stuff--exist in your personal home directory. Each user has a home directory which is identified by their login. In order to keep these home directories organized and to prevent cluttering, the system administrator has made a partition for home directories to reside in, and that partition contains the file system for home directories. (In the future, you can think of disk partitions and file systems as essentially the same.)

Possibly the best way to understand the relationship between files, directories, partitions/file systems, and the hard disk is to consider an analogy of a file cabinet, because a file cabinet has different levels just like a computer:

File Cabinet Hard Disk
Drawer Partition/File System
Folder Directory
File File


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