Root directory

In file systems, the root directory is the highest directory in the hierarchy.

To use the example of a physical file cabinet, if the separate drawers in the file cabinet are represented as the highest level of sub-directories[?] in the file system, then the room the file cabinet is in may be representated as the root directory. That is, other directories may be inside it, but the root directory cannot go in any other directories, at least in that file system.

Note: In popular operating systems such as Microsoft Windows and unix, you may place files inside the root directory; not only in folders. You may envision this as placing paper files in the room but not in a drawer of a file cabinet.