Directory

Below is an example of what a directory path would like like in MS-DOS.

C:\Windows\System32>

In the above example C: is the drive letter you're looking at and System32, which is in the Windows directory is the current directory you would be looking at.

Below is an example of what a directory may look like in a Linux / Unix variant.

/usr/bin

In the above example you're located in the bin directory that is a subdirectory of the usr directory.

To change a directory in MS-DOS, Linux, Unix and most other command line operating systems, use the "cd" command. 

• Additional information about the MS-DOS cd command can be found here.
• Additional information about the Linux / Unix cd command can be found here.

To make a directory in MS-DOS, Linux, Unix, and most other command line operating systems, use the "mkdir" command.

• Additional information about the MS-DOS mkdir and md commands can be found here. 
• Additional information about the Linux / Unix mkdir command can be found here.

Below is a listing of reserved characters that cannot be used when creating a file or directory in most operating systems.

\ / : * ? " < > |

• Additional information about changing directories can be found on document CH000795.
• See document CH000838 for additional information about copying directories.
• Additional information about renaming a directory can be found on document CH000846.

Also see: Absolute path, Current directory, File, Folder, Hierarchical file system, Home directory, MRUD, Network directory, Operating system definitions, Parent, Path, root directory, Shared directory, Subdirectory, Wd