This LPIC-1 practice question tests your understanding of administrative tasks. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
jdoe:x:1001:1001:John Doe:/home/jdoe:/bin/bash
Refer to the exhibit. This line is from /etc/passwd. What does the third field (1001) represent?
jdoe:x:1001:1001:John Doe:/home/jdoe:/bin/bash
Home directory UID
Why wrong: There is no such field; the home directory is the sixth field.
Group ID (GID)
Why wrong: The GID is the fourth field.
User ID (UID)
The third field in /etc/passwd is the numerical user ID.
Login shell number
Why wrong: The login shell is the seventh field, and it's a path, not a number.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
User ID (UID)
In the /etc/passwd file, the third field is the User ID (UID), a numeric identifier assigned to each user. UID 0 is reserved for root, and values below 1000 are typically system accounts, while 1001 is a regular user UID. This field is used by the kernel to track user ownership of processes and files.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
Home directory UID
Why it's wrong here
There is no such field; the home directory is the sixth field.
Group ID (GID)
Why it's wrong here
The GID is the fourth field.
User ID (UID)
Why this is correct
The third field in /etc/passwd is the numerical user ID.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Login shell number
Why it's wrong here
The login shell is the seventh field, and it's a path, not a number.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates often confuse the order of fields in /etc/passwd, specifically mixing up the UID (third field) with the GID (fourth field), because both are numeric identifiers.
Detailed technical explanation
The UID is a 32-bit integer (typically unsigned) that the kernel uses for permission checks; the mapping from UID to username is done via /etc/passwd or NSS (Name Service Switch). When a user creates a file, the UID is stored in the inode, and the kernel compares it against the process's effective UID for access control. In real-world scenarios, UID reuse or migration between systems can cause permission issues if UIDs are not kept consistent.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
A practitioner preparing for the LPIC-1 exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
What to study next
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FAQ
Administrative Tasks — This question tests Administrative Tasks — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: User ID (UID) — In the /etc/passwd file, the third field is the User ID (UID), a numeric identifier assigned to each user. UID 0 is reserved for root, and values below 1000 are typically system accounts, while 1001 is a regular user UID. This field is used by the kernel to track user ownership of processes and files.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 25, 2026
This LPIC-1 practice question is part of Courseiva's free LPI certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the LPIC-1 exam.
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