Linux File System & Permissions

Master the Linux directory hierarchy, essential navigation commands, and comprehensive security permissions system through detailed explanations and hands-on practice.

Linux Directory Structure

Linux follows a hierarchical file system starting from the root directory (/):

/

Root directory - top of hierarchy

/home

User home directories

/etc

System configuration files

/var

Variable data (logs, cache)

/bin

Essential binary commands

/usr

User programs and files

# View directory structure

$ pwd

/home/kali

$ ls -la /

drwxr-xr-x 2 root root 4096 Apr 10 bin

drwxr-xr-x 13 root root 4096 Apr 10 etc

drwxr-xr-x 3 root root 4096 Apr 10 home

drwxr-xr-x 2 root root 4096 Apr 10 usr

Essential Navigation Commands

pwd

Print working directory - shows current location

ls

List directory contents

cd

Change directory

mkdir

Make directory

rmdir

Remove empty directory

cp

Copy files or directories

mv

Move or rename files

rm

Remove files

Additional Resources & References

ls Manual Page

Complete reference for the ls command with all options

chmod Manual

Detailed chmod documentation and examples

Linux Filesystem Tutorial

In-depth explanation of directory structure