Directory (file systems)
5515027
222197948
2008-06-28T01:14:55Z
ERobson
566994
/* The folder metaphor */
In [[computing]], a '''directory''', '''catalog''', '''folder'''<ref>"With the introduction of Windows 95, Microsoft started referring to directories as folders." (''[http://www.murach.com/books/csh5/ Murach's C# 2005]'', page 34)</ref> or '''drawer'''<ref>Name used in [[AmigaOS]] [[Workbench (AmigaOS)|Workbench]].</ref> is an entity in a [[file system]] which contains a group of files and/or other directories. A typical file system may contain thousands (or even hundreds of thousands) of directories. Files are kept organized by storing related files in the same directory. A directory contained inside another directory is called a ''subdirectory'' of that directory. Together, the directories form a [[hierarchy]], or tree structure.
== Overview ==
A computer's file system can be visualized as a file cabinet, where high-level directories are represented by the drawers and lower-level subdirectories may be represented as file folders within the drawers.
Historically, and even on some modern [[embedded device]]s, the filesystems either have no support for directories at all or only have a flat directory structure, meaning subdirectories are not allowed; there is only a group of top-level directories each containing files. The first popular fully general hierarchical filesystem was that of [[Unix|UNIX]]. This type of filesystem was an early research interest of [[Dennis Ritchie]].
In modern times in [[Unix-like]] systems, especially [[Linux]], directory structure is defined by the [[Filesystem Hierarchy Standard]].
In many [[operating system]]s, programs have an associated [[current working directory]] in which they execute. Typically filenames accessed by the program are assumed to reside within this directory if the filenames are not specified with an explicit directory name.
Some operating systems restrict a [[computer user|user's]] access to only their [[home directory]] or project directory, thus isolating their activities from all other users.
On Unix, directories are regarded as a type of file.<ref>"Everything is a File" (''[http://www.uwsg.indiana.edu/usail/concepts/filesystems/everything-is-a-file.html Unix System Administration Independent Learning]'')</ref>
=== The folder metaphor ===
[[Image:Crystal folder2.png|right]]
The name ''folder'', presenting an analogy to the [[file folder]] used in offices, and used originally by [[Apple Lisa]]<ref>http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2008/05/29/the-lisa-computer-system-apple-designs-a-new-kind-of-machine/ "Apple Designs a New Kind of Machine"</ref>, is common on most modern [[operating system]]s' desktop environments including [[Mac OS]], [[Mac OS X]], [[OS/2]], [[Microsoft Windows]], and many environments for [[BSD]] and [[Linux]]. Folders are often depicted with [[icon]]s which visually resemble physical file folders.
Strictly speaking, there is a difference between a ''directory'' which is a [[file system]] concept, and the [[graphical user interface]] metaphor that is used to represent it (a ''folder''). For example, Microsoft Windows uses the concept of [[Special Folders|special folders]] to help present the contents of the computer to the user in a fairly consistent way that frees the user from having to deal with absolute directory paths, which can vary between versions of Windows, and between individual installations.
==References==
<references/>
== See also ==
* [[cd (command)|cd command]]
* [[mkdir|mkdir command]]
* [[pushd and popd|pushd and popd commands]]
* [[Filename]]
* [[Working directory]]
* [[Web directory]]
== External links ==
* [http://www.bellevuelinux.org/directory.html Definition of directory] by The Linux Information Project (LINFO)
* [http://www.superlist.net Superlist of directory]
[[Category:Computer file systems]]
[[Category:File system management]]
[[cs:Adresář]]
[[de:Verzeichnis]]
[[es:Directorio]]
[[eo:Dosierujo]]
[[eu:Direktorio]]
[[fa:پوشه (رایانه)]]
[[fr:Répertoire (informatique)]]
[[ko:디렉터리]]
[[hi:फोल्डर]]
[[id:Direktori]]
[[it:Directory]]
[[ku:Peldank]]
[[ms:Direktori]]
[[nl:Directory]]
[[ja:ディレクトリ]]
[[pl:Katalog (system plików)]]
[[pt:Diretório (informática)]]
[[ru:Директория (файловая система)]]
[[sk:Adresár]]
[[fi:Hakemisto]]
[[sv:Katalog]]
[[uk:Директорія (інформаційні технології)]]