Linux vs. Windows File System - Explained

Linux vs Windows File System - Explained
When it comes to Operating Systems, Linux and Windows differ a lot in how they manage files & folders. Let’s break it down:

File System Structure​

Windows:
Uses Drive letters (C:, D:, E:, F ...)
Each partition has its own letter.
Example: C:\Users\Admin\Documents
Linux:
Everything starts from a single root “/”.
No drive letters → partitions are mounted inside the tree.
Example: /home/user/documents

File Permissions & Security​

Windows:
Uses ACL (Access Control Lists).
Files can be read/write based on user accounts & groups.
Less strict compared to Linux.
Linux:
Follows rwx (Read, Write, Execute) for Owner | Group | Others.
Example: -rwxr-xr--
Very strict and secure → one reason Linux is trusted in servers .

System Files Location​

Windows:
System files stored in C:\Windows\System32
User files stored in C:\Users\
Linux:
/etc → Configuration files
/bin → Essential binaries
/var → Logs & variable data
/home → User files

Case Sensitivity​

Windows:
Not case-sensitive → File.txt = file.txt
Linux:
Case-sensitive → File.txt ≠ file.txt

Common File Systems Used​

Windows: NTFS, FAT32, exFAT
Linux: EXT4, XFS, Btrfs, ZFS

Quick Summary​

Windows = Easy for beginners, less strict security.
Linux = Highly secure, flexible, used in servers & hacking.
Hackers prefer Linux because of file system control + permissions + flexibility