File Specification

The general format for a file specification is:- directory-path/file-name e.g.:-

/home/west/core

There are several important points to note:-

• There are only two components: the directory path and the file name. There is no device name nor does the file name have an extension. However the character `.' is permitted as part of the file name so it is possible to have file names like test.dat and some software assumes that files do take this form. In such cases the term ``suffix'' is usually used to refer to the trailing component. Special files, usually configuration files, start with an dot. Such files are ``hidden'' i.e. they are not displayed when you list out files unless you use the -a option to the ls command.

• Names are case sensitive so TEST.DAT is not the same as test.dat (or Test.Dat). For the most part UNIX file names use lowercase letters.

• Subdirectory files within the current directory don't have a special ``extension''.

There are two special directories:-

• . -- the current directory.

• .. -- the parent directory of the current directory.