# File

A file is a pool of data in the [filesystem](/dict/terms/filesystem). On
userlevel, it\'s referenced using a name, a
[hardlink](/dict/terms/hardlink) to the file.

If a file is not referenced anymore (number of hardlinks to it drops to
0) then the space allocated for that file is re-used, unless it\'s still
used by some process.

The file-data splits into actual payload (file contents) and some
metadata like filesize, filemode or timestamps. The metadata is stored
in the [inode](/dict/terms/inode).

Strictly spoken, a [hardlink](/dict/terms/hardlink) (also called
\"filename\") points to the [inode](/dict/terms/inode) which organizes a
file, not to the file itself.

## See also

-   [filesystem](/dict/terms/filesystem)
-   [filetimes](/dict/terms/filetimes)
-   [hardlink](/dict/terms/hardlink)
-   [inode](/dict/terms/inode)