NAME

passwd − password file

DESCRIPTION

Passwd contains for each user the following information:

name (login name, contains no upper case)

encrypted password

numerical user ID

numerical group ID

GCOS job number, box number, optional GCOS user-id

initial working directory

program to use as Shell

This is an ASCII file.  Each field within each user’s entry is separated from the next by a colon.  The GCOS field is used only when communicating with that system, and in other installations can contain any desired information.  Each user is separated from the next by a new-line.  If the password field is null, no password is demanded; if the Shell field is null, the Shell itself is used. 

This file resides in directory /etc.  Because of the encrypted passwords, it can and does have general read permission and can be used, for example, to map numerical user ID’s to names. 

FILES

/etc/passwd

SEE ALSO

7th Edition