Folder Layout

bin

For Binary files

boot

Basic files to start the boot process

dev

A "virtual" file system

/dev/urandom

Outputs a stream of random numbers

/dev/nvme

Nvme hard drives can be found starting with this path. Normally /dev/nvme${DRIVEINDEX}p${PARTITION_NUMBER} (for example /dev/nvme0p0)

/dev/sd

Normal hard drives are found here, /dev/sd${LETTER}$(NUMBER), where letter is the drive letter, and number is the partition number (for example /dev/sda1).

/dev/zero

etc

Additional libraries and configuration files needed to complete the boot process

home

Where your files are stored, and your configurations

lib

Library files. Needed for most binaries.

lib64

Library files for 64bit systems. Needed for most binaries.

lost+found

Files that for some reason got partially corrupted go here. Almost always empty (and you want it that way)

media

A place to mount USBs/other external media automatically

mnt

A place to mount external media manually

opt

A place to install proprietary and other software that is self-contained

proc

A "virtual" file system that has process information

root

A home for the "root" user

run

General information about the system that is valid until reboot.

sbin

Super User (root) binaries. These binaries normally modify your system in some way, and are not needed for normal use.

sys

A "virtual" file system that represents your physical hardware.

tmp

A place for temporary files that do not persist across reboots.

usr

Additional software, normally managed by your package manager. Some configuration files are here as well.

usr/local

A place for you to add additional software, outside of the package manager. Not normally needed.

var

Varies state about the system that persists across reboots