Summary
Now that you have completed this chapter, you should have a firm understanding of the following:

The UNIX file system structure is made up of directories, subdirectories and files. Directories can be created by the operating system, applications programs, system administrators and end users.

The location of all files and directories in the file system can be specified using an absolute or relative pathname. Absolute pathname always start with the root directory (/). Relative pathnames are specified based on where you are in the directory structure.

You can tell where you are in the directory structure using the pwd command and you can move around or navigate the directory structure using the cd command. Shortcuts make navigating the directory structure easier.

The ls command can be used to display the contents of a directory, showing the files and subdirectories that are there. Many options are available with the ls command to determine what is displayed and how.

Metacharacters are non-alphanumeric symbols that have special meaning to the shell. Metacharacters including the asterisk and question mark wildcards can be used with many UNIX commands for added flexibility.