Hour 3. Working with Files
In UNIX there are two basic types of files: ordinary and special. An ordinary file contains data, text, or program instructions. Almost all of the files on a UNIX system are ordinary files. This chapter covers operations on ordinary files.
Special files are mainly used to provide access to hardware such as hard drives, CD-ROM drives, modems, and Ethernet adapters. Some special files are similar to aliases or shortcuts and enable you to access a single file using different names. Special files are covered in Chapter 6, “Manipulating File Attributes.”
Both ordinary and special files are stored in directories. Directories are similar to folders in the Mac OS or Windows, and they are covered in detail in Chapter 4, “Working ...
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