As with most file systems, Linux supports a variety of file types, as described in the following table:
|
File Type |
First Character in File Listing |
Description |
|---|---|---|
|
Regular file |
- |
Normal files such as text, data, or executable files |
|
Directory |
d |
Files that are lists of other files |
|
Link |
l |
A shortcut that points to the location of the actual file |
|
Special file |
c |
Mechanism used for input and output, such as files in /dev |
|
Socket |
s |
A special file that provides inter-process networking protected by the file system’s access control |
|
Pipe |
p |
A special file that allows processes to communicate with each other without using network socket semantics |