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<p>In a <a href="/facts/Computing/Kghtm9fX">computer</a> <a href="/facts/File_system/FdPm90uc">file system</a>, and primarily used in the <a href="/facts/Unix/0pNL2seI">Unix</a> and <a href="/facts/Unix-like/YAKrAxzd">Unix-like</a> <a href="/facts/Operating_system/8XTuvMh2">operating systems</a>, the root directory is the first or top-most <a href="/facts/Directory_(computing)/VLtLcEXY">directory</a> in a hierarchy. It can be likened to the trunk of a <a href="/facts/Tree_(data_structure)/RcXz9noF">tree</a>, as the starting point where all branches originate from. The root file system is the file system contained on the same <a href="/facts/Disk_Partition_Recovery/KvNG11I1">disk partition</a> on which the root directory is located; it is the filesystem on top of which all other file systems are <a href="/facts/Mount_(computing)/INDgdDX9">mounted</a> as the system boots up. </p>