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.

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific & Technical Terms, 6E, Copyright © 2003 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

root directory

(file system)

The topmost node of a hierarchical file system.

This article is provided by FOLDOC - Free Online Dictionary of Computing (foldoc.org)

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.

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