The File System

University of Wisconsin Madison

Computer Systems Lab CS1000

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The File System

 

The file system simply provides a means to organize and store files on permanent storage media (e.g. disks). Logically, a file is some collection of information. Files may contain, for example, your latest Pascal program text, a letter to your TA, or a program you can run. The first two of these are usually termed text files while the latter is called an executable or binary. To UNIX, your file is merely a collection of characters. Be careful, though, because executable files tend to lock up terminals and printers if you try to display or print them.





Caitlin Howell
Thu Jan 16 20:24:40 CST 1997