bash-hackers-wiki/docs/dict/file.md
2024-03-30 13:22:45 -05:00

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# File
A file is a pool of data in the [filesystem](../dict/terms/filesystem.md). On
userlevel, it's referenced using a name, a
[hardlink](../dict/terms/hardlink.md) 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.md).
Strictly spoken, a [hardlink](../dict/terms/hardlink.md) (also called
\"filename\") points to the [inode](../dict/terms/inode.md) which organizes a
file, not to the file itself.
## See also
- [filesystem](../dict/terms/filesystem.md)
- [filetimes](../dict/terms/filetimes.md)
- [hardlink](../dict/terms/hardlink.md)
- [inode](../dict/terms/inode.md)