bash-hackers-wiki/docs/dict/file.md
2023-07-05 11:06:16 +02:00

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# 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)