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Directory vs Dotfile - What's the difference?

directory | dotfile |

As nouns the difference between directory and dotfile

is that directory is a list of names, addresses etc, of specific classes of people or organizations, often in alphabetical order or in some classification while dotfile is (computing|unix) a file or directory whose name begins with a dot (period or full stop), typically hidden from view.

As an adjective directory

is containing directions; instructing; directorial.

directory

English

(wikipedia directory)

Noun

(directories)
  • A list of names, addresses etc, of specific classes of people or organizations, often in alphabetical order or in some classification.
  • (computing) A structured listing of the names and characteristics of the files on a storage device.
  • (computing) A virtual container in a computer's file system, in which files and other directories may be stored. The files and subdirectories in a directory are usually related.

    • Synonyms

    * (structured listing)

    Adjective

    (-)
  • Containing directions; instructing; directorial.

    • dotfile

    English

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (computing, Unix) A file or directory whose name begins with a dot (period or full stop), typically hidden from view.
  • * 2003 , James Lee, Brent Ware, Open source Web development with LAMP
    • There is also a dotfile generator, which you can use to create dotfiles for many different programs until you get the hang of it.
  • * 2004 , Eric S Raymond, The art of Unix programming
    • In general, a user-defined environment variable can be an effective design choice when the value changes often enough to make editing a dotfile each time...