files in unix

1) ordianary files: files created to store text
2)directories :
it is special kind of file that stores information of other files
3) special files:
used to represent real physical devices . eg. Printer , tape, terminal(moniter,screen)
two types: (a) chaaracter IO (on screen)
(b) block IO (in hardisk)
these files are found in directory /dev
4) pipe:
pipe is also called a file (special type)


FILE NAMES:

• it is recomended that not to use special characters in filename
• file may or may not have any extension
• in a directory two files cannot have same name
• there are some file name which you cannot use they are reserverd e.g.
  

(i) / is reserved for root directory
(ii) . is reserved for current directory

• hidden file name start with a dot ( . )