---
name: "intro"
section: "5"
platform: "freebsd"
package: "base"
version: "16.0-CURRENT-20261027-61c70dc16a79"
release: "FreeBSD 16.0-CURRENT (2026-10-27)"
platforms: ["linux", "freebsd", "openbsd", "macos"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/intro/5"
---

# intro(5)

introduction to file formats

## NAME

**intro** – introduction to file formats

## DESCRIPTION

This section contains information about the file formats which comprise most data structures in the BSD environment, including:

- [ascii(7)](/ascii/7.md) configuration and resource files

- system binary file and stream structures

- composition of database files

## FILES

- */etc/*

  base system software configuration files

- */usr/local/etc/*

  locally installed software configuration files

## SEE ALSO

[apropos(1)](/apropos/1.md), [intro(1)](/intro/1.md), [hier(7)](/hier/7.md), [intro(8)](/intro/8.md)

## HISTORY

The **intro**(5) manual page first appeared in FreeBSD 2.2.