PASSWD(5) File Formats Manual PASSWD(5)
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 commu-
nicating 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
getpwent(3), login(1), crypt(3), passwd(1), group(5)
PASSWD(5)
