The directory tree start with the root. This is written with only a /.
The name of a harddrive is not used in UNIX/Linux as it is used in MS-DOS/Windows.
In the root direcory you will find several directories, which has there own purpose.
| / | Directory root |
| /bin/ | Commands |
| /boot/ | Boot files and kernels |
| /dev/ | Device files that represent the system hardware |
| /etc/ | System configuration files |
| /home/ | Home directory for users |
| /lib/ | Library files, includes files for all kinds of programs needed by the system and the users. |
| /media/ | Contains subdirectories where removable media devices inserted into the computer are mounted. |
| /mnt/ | Standard mount point for temporary external file systems. |
| /net/ | Standard mount point for entire remote file systems |
| /opt/ | Optional software |
| /proc/ | The process file system |
| /root/ | Home directory for the root user. |
| /sbin/ | Programs for use by the system and the system administrator. |
| /srv/ | Server data |
| /sys/ | |
| /tmp/ | Temporary files |
| /usr/ | Programs, libraries, documentation etc. for all user-related programs. |
| /var/ | Storage for all variable files and temporary files created by users, such as log files, the mail queue, the print spooler area, space for temporary storage of files downloaded from the Internet, or to keep an image of a CD before burning it. |
In some distros the directories /bin, /lib, /lib64 ans /sbin are moved to the /usr directory. There are links in / to them.