whatis usr-directory
/usr
Also known as: usr directory, /usr/local
The directory containing installed programs, libraries, and shared data. Package-managed software goes in /usr; locally built software in /usr/local.
What Is the /usr Directory in Linux?
Most binaries live in /usr/bin, libraries in /usr/lib, and documentation and icons in /usr/share. On modern distros /bin and /lib are just symlinks into /usr (the "usr merge").
/usr/local is reserved for software you install yourself outside the package manager, so it never collides with distro packages. It comes before /usr/bin in the default PATH.
Learn more about /usr
- The /usr Directory Explained /usr holds the vast majority of installed software, libraries, and documentation on a Linux system. This guide explains what belongs in /usr, how it differs from /bin and /opt, and why the historic /usr merge happened.
- The /opt Directory Explained /opt is reserved for self-contained, third-party software packages that keep all their files in one place. This guide explains what belongs in /opt, how it differs from /usr, and what to expect when you find something installed there.