The File System

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