Understanding how website files are organized on your hosting server helps you manage your site effectively.
Basic File Structure
public_html folder:
This is your website's root directory - where your main website files go.
Common folders you'll see:
• public_html/ - Main website files
• public_html/images/ - Image files
• public_html/css/ - Stylesheet files
• public_html/js/ - JavaScript files
• logs/ - Website access and error logs
• mail/ - Email account data
• tmp/ - Temporary files
Essential Website Files
- index.html or index.php: Your homepage file
- .htaccess: Server configuration file
- robots.txt: Instructions for search engines
- sitemap.xml: Site structure for search engines
- favicon.ico: Small icon for browser tabs
WordPress File Structure
If you're using WordPress:
• wp-content/themes/ - WordPress themes
• wp-content/plugins/ - WordPress plugins
• wp-content/uploads/ - Media uploads
• wp-config.php: WordPress configuration
• wp-admin/ - WordPress admin files
File Organization Best Practices
- Keep files organized in logical folders
- Use descriptive file names
- Compress large images before uploading
- Regular cleanup of unused files
- Backup important files regularly
File Permissions
Correct permissions for security:
• Folders: 755 (read, write, execute for owner)
Managing Files
You can manage files through:
• cPanel File Manager
• FTP clients (FileZilla, WinSCP)
• SFTP for secure transfers
• Code editors with FTP support
