File types for UNIX systems

1. Normal file (regular files). This is the most commonly used file type, which contains some form of data. As to whether this data is text or binary data, there is no difference in the Unix kernel. The interpretation of ordinary file content is done by the application that processes the file.
   
   
2. Catalog file (directory files). This file contains the names of other files and pointers to information about those files. Any process that has read access to a directory file can read the contents of the directory, but only the kernel can write the directory file directly. The process must use the appropriate function to change the directory.
   
   
3. Block special files (blocks special file). This type of file provides buffered access to devices such as disks, with each access in fixed-length units.
   
   
4. Character Special files (character special file). This type of file provides access to the device without buffering. The length of each visit is variable. All devices in the system are either character special files or block special files.
   
   
5. Fifo. This type of file is used for interprocess communication, sometimes referred to as a named pipe (named pipe).
   
   
6. Socket (socket). This type of file is used for inter-process network communication. Sockets can also be used for non-network communication between processes on a single host.
   
   
7. Symbolic links (symbolic link). This type of file points to another file.
   

File types for UNIX systems