# Special file

Unlike a regular file (a bunch of accessible data organized on a
filesystem), it\'s a special filename that points to a ressource or
similar:

-   character special files
-   block special files
-   named pipes
-   socket files

Since a directory also is only a file, you can count it as special file,
too.

## See also

-   [file](/dict/terms/file)
-   [filename](/dict/terms/hardlink)
-   [directory](/dict/terms/directory)