Unlike Windows, Ubuntu has a very unusual directory structure. Everything in Ubuntu is stored under directories and there are no visible partitions.
Users who are new to Ubuntu may find it mind-numbing or confusing to locate their information within the complex structure of directories. Here, in this article, we try to explain the Ubuntu directory structure and dig into each commonly used directories.
Ubuntu Directory Structure Explained
/bin
The Bin directory contains the executable files for running all the Ubuntu commands like ls, grep, sudo, etc. These files are accessible at system level, i.e. across all users.
/boot
The Boot directory holds vital files to help boot the system into action, i.e. these files are used to boot Ubuntu. It includes kernel, ramdisk image and bootloader configuration files. It’s highly recommended to not enter this directory unless critical.
/dev
The Dev directory is used to keep track of all the peripheral devices connected to your computer, including internal components like graphics card, sound card, memory sticks, etc. It does not take much space on the hard drive.
/etc
The Etc directory includes all the configuration files which are used to store most of the settings you perform on Ubuntu.
/home
The Home directory is user specific like Documents on Windows. Every user will have their own special sub-directory within Home directory where they can store their personal documents and other files.
/lib
All the Ubuntu libraries are stored in the Lib directory. Libraries are basically shared resources used by numerous applications.
/media
The directory Media, even though not a core part of Ubuntu, is used as a mounting point when connecting to external storage devices like digital cameras or USB pen drives.
/mnt
The Mnt directory too is used as mounting point for other file systems which may exists in your computer. Like FAT32 partition of Windows can be mounted here.
/opt
The Opt directory holds all the additional or optional software package installations. E.g: If you wish you install Google Desktop, it will reside in Opt directory.
/proc
The Proc directory maintains the current state of the entire system. It does not occupy any space and is virtual, residing in the system memory. Only the “root” user (administrative privileges) has access to this directory.
/sbin
The Sbin directory holds commands for making system-wide modifications. Again, only the “root” user can access this directory.
/sys
The Sys directory stores files related to the PnP components of Ubuntu.
/tmp
Tmp is the one and only temporary directory of Ubuntu where all the temporary data is stored.
/usr
The Usr directory generally contains pre-installed programs, wallpapers, themes and few libraries. It’s equivalent to the Program Files folder in Windows.
/var
The Var directory contains all the variable components of the system like webroot directories, databases, etc.
We tried giving a simple overview of the Ubuntu directory structure to amateur users or those seeking to jump from Windows to Ubuntu. I hope it makes your life on Ubuntu simple.