/etc/passwd

• Each User should have a line in this file.
• (Yet, one can create files belonging to Users not found in this file).
• A line in this file is split into fields using the ':' character:
  • User Name
  • Password/Password's Location (empty - no password, 'x': shadowed password - appears in "/etc/shadow" instead)
  • User ID (number)
  • User's default Group ID (will be explained later)
  • Real Name (some descriptive text)
  • Home Directory
  • Login Shell

Originally written by guy keren