A hierarchical file system organizes digital information through folders and subfolders, with the root directory at the top. It improves efficiency and is used in various operating systems. File paths show the location of data within the structure.
A hierarchical file system (HFS) is used to arrange and organize digital information on a computer through a series of folders and subfolders. The largest drive that contains all of the data is typically referred to as the “root” and can appear at the top of a menu or as the leftmost entry in a file path. Within this root are then contained one or more folders which may also contain additional information. At the bottom of a hierarchical file system are individual units of information that can be accessed and read by navigating the hierarchy tree.
The term “Hierarchical File System” can be used to refer to a specific format used in an operating system (OS) developed by Apple Computers®. It is often used in a general context, however, to mean any type of format that uses this basic structure. The purpose of a hierarchical file system is to organize information that is effective for a computer and intuitive enough for a user.
Previous methods of arrangement often included all information within a single level. This meant that when a computer looked up or loaded data, everything stored on it had to be included. As hard drives and other storage devices have increased in size, this becomes increasingly problematic for both the computer and the user. To counter this, the hierarchical file system was developed, which organized information into levels or directories which could then be navigated more efficiently.
If you view a hierarchical file system from top to bottom, the top level is the root directory, which contains all other data. Within this are usually numerous folders or subdirectories, which in turn contain additional subfolders and files. At the bottom of this visual tree are the different data that a computer accesses and uses to retrieve information. The whole structure is essentially a branching network of folders within directories.
The structure of a hierarchical file system can also be documented from left to right to indicate a “file path”. This is basically an address that shows where data is located within various folders and directories on a computer. The root is often indicated on the left, as the path starts there, and each folder is separated by a slash or backslash, depending on the operating system being used. The path to a file might look like this: “rootfoldersub-folderfile_name”. This is exactly the same structure as a tree diagram, but simply represented from left to right instead of top to bottom.
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