Final answer:
In Unix file systems, a directory lists file names and maps them to inodes, while an inode contains the metadata of the file, such as size, ownership, and data block addresses, excluding the file name.
Step-by-step explanation:
In Unix file systems, directories and inodes play distinct roles in organizing the filesystem. A directory is much like a table of contents in a book or a list of contents in a manila folder; it contains entries that map human-readable file names to their corresponding inodes. Each entry in a directory associates one file name with one inode number.
On the other hand, an inode (short for index node) contains all the metadata about a file, except for its name. This metadata includes information such as the file's size, ownership, permissions, timestamps, and the addresses of the data blocks on the disk where the file's contents are actually stored. Think of an inode as the detailed information on individual papers inside your manila folder—the exact measurements, ownership, and where to find them. However, unlike the manila folder analogy, an inode does not tell you the 'weight' of a file directly but provides the size in bytes, which you can use to determine how much space the file takes up.
A demonstration of this can be seen when comparing an orbital filling diagram with an electron configuration in chemistry. Much like counting arrows in the orbital diagram, you would have to look at individual inodes to comprehend the full scope of each file. However, when it comes to directories, you would add up inode data, similar to how electron configurations provide a summative view of electrons in an atom.