Linux › Section C · Devices › Topic C.1

Device files

Linux lets programs reach most hardware through ordinary-looking files in /dev, so the same tools that read and write text files can talk to disks, terminals and special kernel devices. Reading a /dev listing tells you what kind of device each file is and which driver serves it.

In this topic

  • Devices that look like files
  • Reading a /dev listing
  • Block and character devices
  • Pipes and sockets
  • Major and minor numbers
  • Creating device files
  • Pseudo-devices
  • Worked example: trying pseudo-devices safely
  • Worked example: reading device entries
  • Common mistakes to avoid
  • Key takeaways

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