Types of Files in Linux

In Linux, everything is treated as a file — regular files, folders, devices, all of it.

To check file types:

ls -l

The first character in the output tells you the file type.

File Type Reference

Symbol File Type Description
- Regular File Normal files — .txt, .sh, .log, binaries
d Directory Folders that organize files
l Symbolic Link Shortcut to another file or directory
c Character Device Transfers data character-by-character (keyboard, mouse, terminal)
b Block Device Transfers data in blocks (hard disk, SSD, USB)
s Socket File Enables process-to-process communication
p FIFO / Named Pipe Output of one process becomes input of another

File Types Explained

Regular File (-)

Directory (d)

Symbolic Link (l)