Refers to systems that are organized in the shape of a pyramid, with each row of objectslinked to objects directly beneath it. Hierarchical systems pervade everyday life. The army, for example, which has generals at the top of the pyramid and privates at the bottom, is a hierarchical system. Similarly, the system for classifying plants and animals according to species, family, genus, and so on, is also hierarchical.
In addition to file systems, many data structures for storing information are hierarchical in form. Menu-drivenprograms are also hierarchical, because they contain a root menu at the top of the pyramid and submenus below it.
