whatis filesystem-hierarchy-standard
Filesystem Hierarchy Standard (FHS)
Also known as: FHS, directory structure
The standard that defines what belongs in Linux top-level directories like /etc, /usr, /var, /home, and /tmp.
What Is the Linux Filesystem Hierarchy Standard?
Linux has a single directory tree starting at /, and the FHS gives each branch a job: /etc for configuration, /usr for installed software, /var for changing data like logs and caches, /home for users, /tmp for scratch files.
Knowing the layout tells you where to look for things. Logs are under /var/log, service configs under /etc, locally built software under /usr/local, and third-party bundles often under /opt.
Example
ls /
# bin boot dev etc home lib opt proc root run srv sys tmp usr varLearn more about Filesystem Hierarchy Standard (FHS)
- Linux File System Hierarchy Explained Linux puts every file in a specific place for a reason. This guide walks through the Filesystem Hierarchy Standard, explains what belongs where, and covers the modern changes that have reshaped the traditional layout.
- Linux Filesystem Basics: What Every Directory Is For Linux organizes all files under a single root directory, with each subdirectory serving a specific purpose defined by the Filesystem Hierarchy Standard. This guide explains what lives in /, /home, /etc, /var, /usr, /opt, and /tmp -- and why.
- The Root Directory (/) Explained Every Linux filesystem starts at a single directory called root, written as /. This guide explains what root actually is, what lives directly inside it, and why Linux has no drive letters.