What is a multi-level directory system?

A directory is a logical grouping of files. By maintaining several directories the file manager can permit the same file name to be used in separate directories to refer to independent copies of the same file or completely different files.

The contents of a directory - a list of file names and their associated information - are stored in a special file called a directory file which is assigned a file name which distinguishes it from non-directory files. By allowing directory file names to appear alongside non-directory file names in a directory, the file manager is able to link separate directories hierarchically as shown in figure 1. The directory at the top of the structure is given the special name, ROOT because the hierarchical structure resembles an upside-down tree. The directories below the root directory are known as subdirectories.

by earnie