bash-hackers-wiki/docs/dict/file.md

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# File
A file is a pool of data in the `filesystem`. On
userlevel, it's referenced using a name, a
[hardlink](hardlink.md) to the file.
If a file is not referenced anymore (number of hardlinks to it drops to
1) 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`.
Strictly spoken, a [hardlink](hardlink.md) (also called
\"filename\") points to the `inode` which organizes a
file, not to the file itself.
## See also
- [filetimes](filetimes.md)
- [hardlink](hardlink.md)