What directory in Linux stores user home directories? The answer is `/home`.
Linux follows the Filesystem Hierarchy Standard, which designates `/home` as the usual parent directory for ordinary users’ personal directories. A typical account might therefore use `/home/alex`, containing documents, downloads, application settings, and other user-owned data. The shell’s `$HOME` variable points to the specific account’s home directory.
The `/root` directory is a common mix-up. It is the home directory of the superuser named `root`, not the general directory for ordinary accounts. Likewise, `/tmp` is intended for temporary files, while `/usr` stores system programs, libraries, and shared data. Historically, some Unix systems placed user directories under `/usr`, but modern Linux conventions generally use `/home`.
The tilde (`~`) is shorthand for the current user’s home directory. A separate mount point for `/home` is also common, allowing personal data to be managed or backed up independently from the operating system’s core files.