Which file typically contains user account information in Linux?

The file that typically contains user account information in Linux is /etc/passwd. This file serves as a fundamental part of the user management system in Linux and contains essential details about each user on the system. Each line in the /etc/passwd file corresponds to a user account and consists of several fields separated by colons. These fields include the username, password placeholder (usually represented by an 'x' if password information is stored in /etc/shadow), user ID (UID), group ID (GID), user full name or description, home directory, and the default shell.

The /etc/passwd file is readable by all users, making it essential for normal system operations where user authentication and identification are required. This file provides the system with information necessary to create user sessions, set permissions, and manage user resources effectively.

Other files such as /etc/group contain information about user groups, /etc/shadow is used to store hashed password information securely, and /etc/sudoers defines which users have permission to run commands as other users, especially the superuser. Each of these files serves a distinct purpose in the larger scope of system security and user management, but /etc/passwd is specifically the one that holds the overall user account information