root directory


root directory

[′rüt di‚rek·trē] (computer science) The starting point in a hierarchical file system, where the system operates when it is first started.

root directory

(file system)The topmost node of a hierarchical file system.

root directory

The starting point in a hierarchical file system. In modern operating systems, access to the root directory (root folder) requires administrator privileges (see root level). Gaining access to a file in the hierarchy requires identifying all the directories/folders in the path from the root directory/folder to that file. In DOS and Windows, the command line symbol for the root directory is a backslash (\\). In Unix/Linux, it is a slash (/). See path, tree, hierarchical file system and file system.