File Types

Although Linux handles other types of files (such as block device), this chapter only discusses ordinary, also called normal, files and symbolic links. Ordinary files include data, configuration, text, graphics, directories, and other files. Links are filenames that only point to another file. Ordinary files are categorized by the information they contain. Linux desktops and applications recognize file types by the filename extension, just as Windows recognizes .doc extensions as MS Word files.

File extensions are associated with an application. When you double-click a file, the file extension determines which application the file is opened in. A document with an .sxw extension is opened in OpenOffice. New applications usually create ...

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