Where are user files stored under Mac OS X?

One of the fundamental changes Mac OS X has brought about for Macintosh users is user accounts. It is possible to set up a Macintosh with multiple user accounts. Each account has space allocated to it in a folder called Userswhich by default resides in the top-level directory of the hard drive where the Mac OS X software is installed on the computer. The individual user folders in the Users folder bears the name of the user account and is referred to as the home directory for the user. By default inside of a user's home directory are the following directories.

• Desktop - The Desktop folder is a pointer to the user's desktop. The desktop on a Macintosh is the area that's visible when all windows on the computer is closed. Items on the desktop can be displayed only as icons.
• Documents - The Documents folder is the default place for user documents or files created by AppleWorks, iWork, Microsoft Office and other data-creation programs. In addition some programs-such as Adobe Acrobat Reader-place temporary files in it.
• Downloads - The Downloads folder is new in Mac OS 10.5.x and later. It is the default place to put files downloaded from the Internet. Applications like Safari will automatically put files into it unless the user specifically chooses to put the files into a different folder.
• Library - The Library folder is the place where the system puts program-related files not directly accessed by the user. These files include application preference files, data files for programs like iCal and Mail, web browser bookmarks, application log files and temporary files such as web browser cache files.
• Movies - The Movies folder is a place for users to store movies. Movies created by iMovie, Final Cut Express and Final Cut Pro are by default put into this folder but users are free to put whatever movie files they have in this folder.
• Music - The Music folder is a place for users to store any sound files. The iTunes library is stored is by default stored in this folder. The user is free to put whatever sound files they want into this folder.
• Pictures - The Pictures folder is a place for users to store picture files. The iPhoto library is stored by default in this folder. The user is free to put whatever pictures they want into this folder.
• Public - The Public folder is a place for users to put files to be shared with other users. By default sharing is turned off, but when it's turned in it's possible to distribute files to other users by placing them in this folder as well as accept files from other users by having them drop the files into the Drop Box located inside of this folder.
• Sites - The Sites folder is the place where users can create webpages. The Mac OS has a built-in web server. By default this webserver is turned off but when turned on allows users to access the user-created webpage like any other web page. iWeb, which is part of iLife 06, puts web pages it publishes into this folder by default.

Users are free to create additional folders in their home directory. Other users on the computer are not allow, by default, to see files in the other user's home directories.