A directory hierarchy, also known as a file hierarchy or folder hierarchy, is a way of organizing files and directories (folders) on a computer or file storage system. It represents the structure and relationships between files and folders in a hierarchical manner, where each directory can contain files and subdirectories.
Here’s an example of what a simple directory hierarchy might look like:
- Root Directory
- Documents
- Work
- Report.doc
- Presentation.ppt
- Personal
- Vacation.jpg
- Budget.xlsx
- Downloads
- Software
- App1.exe
- App2.exe
- Music
- Artist1
- Album1
- Song1.mp3
- Song2.mp3
- Artist2
- Album2
In this example:
- “Root Directory” is the highest level or top-level directory.
- It contains three main subdirectories: “Documents,” “Downloads,” and “Music.”
- Each of these main directories can contain subdirectories and files.
- For instance, “Documents” has two subdirectories (“Work” and “Personal”), each containing files.
- “Music” has subdirectories for different artists, and within those, there are subdirectories for albums, which contain music files.
Directory hierarchies are used to organize and manage files and are a fundamental part of modern operating systems and file systems. They make it easier for users to locate and organize their data in a structured manner. The use of directory hierarchies can vary depending on the file system and the user’s preferences.