file attributes directories have similar attributes and access rights to files for examplethe following symbolic notation indicates that directory (indicated by the ' 'has read and execute permissions for the directory owner and for the group other users cannot access this directorythe permissions associated with file or directory can be changed either using command from terminal or command window (such as chmod which is used to modify the permissions associated with file or directoryor interactively using the file explorer style tool paths path is particular combination of directories that can lead to specific sub directory or file this concept is important as unix/linux/max os and windows file systems represent an inverted tree of directories and files it is thus important to be able to uniquely reference locations with the tree for examplein the following diagram the path /users/jhunt/workspaces/pycharmprojects/furtherpythonis highlighteda path may be absolute or relative an absolute path is one which provides complete sequence of directories from the root of the file system to specific sub directory or file relative path provides sequence from the current working directory to particular subdirectory or file the absolute path will work wherever program or user is currently located within the directory tree howevera relative path may only be relevant in specific location