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Root directory

A root directory (in English root directory), it is the directory of the highest level of a hierarchy. It is also known as a root document. From this root all other directories branch out. In the case of websites, the most necessary files, such as HTML pages, are found in the root directory of the server from which they will be requested to be viewed through the browser. Root directories are also used for organizing files on computers. The root directories are generally the hard drive. They should not be confused with a root server.

Background

For files to be accessible by a PC or server, they must be applied in a logical structure in a directory. Through the root directory, the files are stored in a tree structure. More directories can be derived from the root itself.

It is also called the root URL of the web pages. But it is only comparable to a root directory in a figurative sense, since it usually remains invisible to Internet users and only affects the filesystem on the backend or on the server.

Practical application

The operation of an Internet site requires web space. This space is provided on a dedicated server or by a web host. If a website is configured with a CMS, the necessary files are copied to the root directory of the server. From there you can retrieve the data necessary to load a web portal. The same applies to domain subpages that can be stored in the root directory and accessed via the browser. Typically, file names are entered into HTML files and are transferred directly to the URL.

Dynamically generated URLs may have to be rewritten into SEO friendly URLs using the .htaccess file. It is advisable to structure the root directory in a well-organized way to avoid errors during server requests.

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