---
title: "What are inode and process id?"  
description: "What are inode and process id?"  
author: "Mukul Goenka"  
published: 2022-04-15  
canonical: https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/96819/what-are-inode-and-process-id  
category: "troubleshooting"  
tags: ["troubleshooting", "linux"]  
reading_time: 1 minute  

---

# What are inode and process id?

What are inode and [process](https://yourviews.mindstick.com/view/83832/a-brief-about-machine-learning-life-cycle-process) id?

## Answers

### Answer by Hitesh Vohra

- An **inode** (short for 'index node') is a data structure used by Linux to hold file information. Each inode in the [**Linux**](https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/96839/how-would-you-schedule-a-task-in-linux) file system has a unique ID that identifies a single file or other item.
- On a Linux or Unix-like operating system, a **PID stands for process** identification number. When a process is created, it is automatically issued a PID. On a Unix-like system, a process is just a running instance of a programme, and each process has its own PID. Using the ps aux command and grep process name is the quickest technique to see if a process is running. Your process is running if you get output along with the process name/pid.

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**Read More: [Explain file permission in Linux.](https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/96818/explain-file-permission-in-linux)**


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Original Source: https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/96819/what-are-inode-and-process-id

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