What type of files are found in the /dev directory of a Linux system?

The /dev directory in a Linux system is specifically designed to hold device files that provide an interface to hardware components. These device files allow users and applications to interact with hardware devices as if they were regular files. When a process reads from or writes to these device files, it is actually communicating with the underlying hardware, such as disks, USB devices, and network interfaces.

Device files are categorized into two main types: character device files and block device files. Character device files represent devices that can be accessed sequentially, such as keyboards and serial ports, while block device files represent devices that can be accessed in blocks, such as hard drives and USB storage devices. This architecture provides a standard way for user programs to access hardware without needing to tailor applications for each specific device.

In contrast, configuration files, executable binaries, and temporary files are located in other directories within the filesystem and serve different purposes. Configuration files typically reside in directories like /etc, executable binaries are commonly found in /bin or /usr/bin, and temporary files mainly reside in /tmp or /var/tmp. Thus, the distinct role of the /dev directory in housing device files is what makes this option the correct answer.