Just like we can see the system files of Windows in the Windows File Explorer, we can also view the system files of Android through some file management applications. It is because of these files that our Android phones can function properly.
I think we are all quite familiar with the directory structure and functions of Windows system, for example, typically, C:\Windows is the directory where the Windows system is located, containing the system files of Windows. So what is the directory structure of Android’s system files? What are their functions? Today, IT Home will introduce you to the system files of Android.
When we enter the root directory of the Android system, we can see a folder named /system.
This directory is equivalent to C:\Windows on a Windows PC, and it contains the system files of Android. Before we introduce the folders inside, let’s first understand a file – build.prop.
/system/build.prop
As we all know, Windows has a registry, and we can make deeper settings by modifying the registry keys. In Android, there is something that serves a similar purpose to the Windows registry, and that is build.prop.
build.prop is a plain text file that we can open with a text editor:
You can see that the content format of this file is quite simple; each line follows the structure XXX=XXX, where the part before the equal sign is the item in build.prop, and the part after is the corresponding value. This file contains manufacturer information, device code, device model, system version, SDK version, system compilation date, and various other settings.
/system/app
This folder contains the pre-installed applications of the Android system, such as the Launcher, input method, camera, browser, music player, etc. These applications are usually not uninstallable. Because of this, some “XX flashing masters” will place promotional applications in this directory during the flashing process, making it impossible to remove those annoying pre-installed applications unless you root your device.
/system/bin
You should know that the Android system is based on Linux, and we can see the shadow of Linux through /system/bin. This folder contains many binary files, which are crucial components of the Linux system. You can run the commands inside directly using a terminal emulator.
/system/etc
Familiarity with the Linux system means that you won’t be a stranger to this directory. Many configuration files for settings in the Android system are stored here, such as location settings, Bluetooth settings, access point settings, WiFi settings, etc.
/system/fonts
This is easy to understand, equivalent to the C:\Windows\Fonts folder on a Windows PC, where the fonts on your phone are stored. Back in the day, when I was using Android 2.2, the purpose of rooting my phone was only twofold: to take screenshots and to change fonts. Now that Android has reached 7.1.2, taking screenshots is no longer a difficult task, and changing fonts is not worth the hassle anymore; back then, I was really naive.
/system/framework
Opening this folder, you will see that it is filled with jar files, which are the soul of the Android system. This is the system platform framework of Android, and they are crucial for the applications installed on the Android system. Without them, no applications could run, and the Android system could not be called an Android system.
/system/lib and /system/lib64
This folder contains various library files, such as platform runtime libraries or dynamic link libraries, which you can think of as the dll files in Windows.
/system/media
This folder contains various media files, such as boot-up music, phone ringtones, SMS ringtones, system notification ringtones, boot animations, shutdown animations, etc. I once changed the boot animation of my Huawei C8815 to Nokia’s “Big Hand Holding Little Hand” by modifying the bootanimation.zip file inside this folder.
/system/priv-app
This directory contains applications that are crucial to the Android system, such as the phone application, contacts application, settings application, etc. Unlike the applications in /system/apps, the applications in /system/priv-app can declare to obtain more permissions due to their importance.
/system/usr
This brings us to Unix systems. In early versions of Unix, the /usr directory existed as the home directory for users (equivalent to today’s /home directory), so the name of this directory should originally be an abbreviation for user, indicating the home directory for users. However, in modern Unix, the /usr directory serves a different purpose, mainly storing non-system boot essential programs and data. Therefore, some people extend the meaning of the /usr directory to User System Resources. In Android, this folder mainly stores keyboard layouts and shared files.
/system/xbin
Like bin, this folder also contains Linux binary files; it seems that the commands for busybox are installed here.
Alright, today’s introduction to the system files of Android ends here. I believe everyone has gained a deeper understanding of their Android devices. I think the unique charm of the Android system lies in its transparency; if we wish, we can understand everything about it. As an open-source system, its freedom may be its essential value.
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