introduction to filespaths and io each file is contained within directory (also known as folder on some operating systems such as windowsa directory can hold zero or more files and zero or more directories for any give directory there are relationships with other directories as shown below for the directory jhuntthe root directory is the starting point for the hierarchical directory tree structure child directory of given directory is known as subdirectory the directory that holds the given directory is known as the parent directory at any one timethe directory within which the program or user is currently workingis known as the current working directory user or program can move around this directory structure as required to do this the user can typically either issue series of commands at terminal or command window such as cd to change directory or pwd to print the working directory alternatively graphical user interfaces (guisto operating systems usually include some form of file manager application that allows user to view the file structure in terms of tree the finder program for the mac is shown below with tree structure displayed for pycharmprojects directory similar view is also presented for the windows explorer program