/ root directory.

The Linux Filesystem Hierarchy Standard (FHS) main purpose is to provide a standard layout for filesystem directories and to help guide the organization of files and directories to ensure consistency and compatibility across different systems and distributions.

🎧

Here's an overview of a typical Unix/Linux file system hierarchy, starting at the root (/) structure and some of its key subdirectories...

Visual Representation of the / Structure

... along with a brief description of each directory:

/               # The root directory, the top level of the fhs
├── bin         # Essential command binaries for all users.
├── boot        # Static files of the boot loader.
├── dev         # Device files (e.g., /dev/sda1 for disk drives).
├── etc         # Host-specific system configuration files.
│   ├── apache2     # Configuration files for the Apache HTTP server.
│   ├── cron.d      # Configuration for cron jobs.
│   ├── init.d      # System V init script configuration files.
│   ├── network     # Network configuration files.
│   └── ssh         # SSH server configuration files.
├── home        # User home directories.
│   ├── user1       # Home directory for user1.
│   └── user2       # Home directory for user2.
├── lib         # Essential shared libraries and kernel modules.
│   ├── modules     # Kernel modules.
│   └── systemd     # System and service manager files.
├── lib64       # Essential 64-bit shared libraries (on some systems).
├── media       # Mount points for removable media.
│   ├── cdrom       # Mount point for CD-ROM drives.
│   └── usb         # Mount point for USB drives.
├── mnt         # Temporary mount directory for mounting filesystems.
├── opt         # Optional software packages.
├── proc        # Virtual filesystem providing process and kernel information.
├── root        # Home directory for the root user (superuser).
├── run         # Data relevant to running processes since last boot.
├── sbin        # Essential system binaries (system administration binaries).
├── srv         # Data for services provided by the system.
├── sys         # Virtual filesystem for exposing kernel objects.
├── tmp         # Temporary files (cleared on system reboot on some systems).
├── usr         # Secondary hierarchy for read-only user data.
│   ├── bin         # Non-essential command binaries.
│   ├── lib         # Libraries for binaries in /usr/bin and /usr/sbin.
│   ├── local       # Locally installed software.
│   ├── sbin        # Non-essential system binaries.
│   └── share       # Architecture-independent data (documentation, etc.).
└── var         # Variable data files.
    ├── cache       # Application cache data.
    ├── lib         # State information (variable data for system services).
    ├── log         # Log files (system and application logs).
    ├── mail        # User mailbox files (e.g., stored emails).
    ├── run         # Data relevant to running processes (pid files, etc.).
    └── spool       # Spool directory (printing and mail queues).

/ root directory

The / (root) directory in Linux is the top-level directory in the filesystem hierarchy. All other directories and files branch off from it. It serves as the starting point for the directory structure, containing essential system directories such as /bin, /etc, /home, /lib, /var, and others, each of which has a specific role in the system's operation.

The root directory is crucial for the system's organization and functionality, ensuring that files and directories are structured logically and accessibly.

Warning

Deleting the / (root) directory on a Linux system would be catastrophic. The root directory is the top-level directory of the filesystem, and it contains all the essential system directories and files necessary for the operating system to function. Deleting the root directory would result in:

1. System Crash: The system would immediately crash because it wouldn't be able to locate critical files and directories needed for its operation.
2. Data Loss: All data on the system would be lost, including user data, system configurations, and installed applications.
3. Unrecoverable State: The system would become unrecoverable without a complete reinstallation of the operating system.

It is crucial to handle the root directory with care and only perform operations on it when absolutely certain of the consequences.

We hope this was of great use!