| MadSci Network: Computer Science |
Joseph,
UNIX files don't actually reside inside directories. A directory is really a file that contains references to other files. The directory holds two pieces of information about each file:
- Its filename.
- An inode number which acts as a pointer to where the system can
find the information it needs about this file.
Filenames are only used by the system to locate a file and its inode
number. This correspondence is called a link. To the system, the file
is the inode number. Multiple filenames can be used to refer to the
same file by creating a link between an inode and each of the filenames.
For more information about UNIX, you can refer to the "UNIX Help for Users" documentation at the following URL:
http://www.met.nps.navy.mil/Unixhelp/TOP_.html
Have a great day!
Keith Little
Systems Analyst/Programmer
little@slacc.com
Try the links in the MadSci Library for more information on Computer Science.