Parent Directory

In a file system hierarchy, the “parent directory” refers to the directory that contains the current directory you’re in. It is one level up in the hierarchy. For example, if you are currently in a directory called “Documents,” the parent directory would be the directory that contains “Documents.” In most file systems, you can navigate to the parent directory using “..” (two dots) as a special notation. This allows you to move up in the directory structure.

Here’s an example of how you can use “..” (two dots) to navigate to the parent directory in a command-line interface like the Windows Command Prompt or a Unix/Linux terminal:

Let’s say you’re currently in the “Documents” directory, and you want to navigate to its parent directory:

  1. Open the Command Prompt or terminal.
  2. You might see something like this:
   C:\Users\YourUsername\Documents>
  1. To move up to the parent directory, simply type:
   cd ..
  1. Press Enter.

Now, you will be in the parent directory of “Documents,” which, in this case, is the user’s home directory.

Remember that “..” is a common notation for moving up one level in a directory hierarchy, and it’s widely supported in various operating systems and file systems.

Key terms in plain language

Open a term for a concise explanation of language used on this page.

Broadband

A general term for always-on, high-speed Internet access. Broadband can be delivered over fiber, cable, DSL, fixed wireless, cellular, or satellite networks.

Cloud Computing

Computing resources—such as applications, servers, storage, or databases—delivered from remote infrastructure and scaled as requirements change.

Cybersecurity

The practices and controls used to protect identities, devices, networks, applications, and data from unauthorized access, disruption, or manipulation.

Identity and Access Management (IAM)

The systems and policies that determine who a user is, what resources they may access, and how that access is authenticated and reviewed.

API

An application programming interface is a defined way for software systems to exchange data or request functions from one another.

Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Software designed to perform tasks involving prediction, classification, generation, reasoning, or decision support. Business use still requires clear data, governance, security, and human accountability.