A home directory is a file system directory assigned to a user on a multi-user operating system. It contains the user's personal files, such as documents, music, pictures, and videos. Additionally, it may include configuration files for software settings, web browser bookmarks, desktop wallpapers, and stored passwords¹.

Default Home Directory Paths

The location and name of the home directory vary depending on the operating system:

• Linux/BSD: /home/username or /usr/home/username

• Windows: C:\Users\username (since Windows Vista)

• macOS: /Users/username

• Android: /data/media/userid¹

Benefits of Home Directory

The home directory provides several benefits:

• Separation of User Data: It separates user data from system-wide data, avoiding redundancy and simplifying backups.

• Security: It limits the impact of malware, as viruses and worms running under the user's privileges can only alter files within the user's home directory¹.

Navigating to Home Directory in Linux