In computing, a data structure that stores metadata about a file or directory in Unix-like file systems.
Coined in the 1970s during Unix development, combining 'i' (index) + 'node'. The term reflects the concept of an indexed node in the file system's tree structure that points to the actual data blocks.
Every file on a Unix system has an inode number, which is like a unique fingerprint—even if you rename or move a file, its inode number stays the same. This clever system means the file system tracks files by number, not name, making operations much more efficient.
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