What directory is the default bash directory

Question

I am using the bash console for Ubuntu and my console location is

user@MyServer:~$

If user@MyServer:/$ is the root directory, what is user@MyServer:~$ ?

Answer 1

~ represents your home directory. If you are logged in as root, this will typically be /root if you are logged in with another user (say with username user) this will typically be /home/user. The best way to know for certain though is either run echo ~ which will print where ~ points to, or you can run the pwd command while in ~ which will show your present working directory - this command is generally useful to know when navigating.

Answer 2

As noted in other replies, it's your home directory, which is shortened to ~.

You can find out what directory you're in using the pwd command. eg:

[atticus:pgl]:~ $ pwd
/home/pgl

Answer 3

“user@MyServer:~$” is the command prompt. You can echo $PS1 to see the setting of your environment.

Answer 4

Its your home directory you can go to your home directory by cd ~

Answer 5

Not always, you can list all users' home directory by:

cut -d : -f1,6 /etc/passwd

so you will get different paths, some under /export/home/USERNAME, some under /home/USERNAME, some has no home directory. For root account, normal / is its home directly.