What is a directory and a file and what is the difference between them?
Experience Level: Junior
Tags: File System
Answer
Directory
A directory is like a box that can contain other boxes (subdirectories).
- There can be directory in a directory that is in a directory.
- A directory that is stored in a directory is sometimes referred to as a subdirectory.
- There can be zero or more directories (subdirectories) in a directory.
- Except subdirectories a directory can contain zero or more files as well.
- Directories can be created, renamed, deleted.
File
A file is a document that contains data.
- The files can be stored in folders.
- One file can be stored in one folder only.
- Files can be created, renamed, deleted. Their content can be modified.
- The full file name consists of the file name and file extension, these two pards are delimited by . (dot) character. The file extension usually identifies the type of the file. You can however rename the file name and the file extension to anything you want.
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