A different root location, also known as a chroot, is an important feature of Linux systems meant to disallow direct access to file resources outside a specified directory location. The environment that is accessible from a chroot is called a jail or chroot jail. Applications in a chroot jail are launched with a different root, wherein only those files that are needed for the application to work are hosted.

Although it is commonly seen as a security feature, this was not the intention of a chroot. However, with the proper approach, chroots can enhance the secure setup of an application.

For instance, in case of a vulnerability, a successful exploit might only be able to access the files available in the chroot. Other sensitive files, such as authentication-related files or other service configurations, are not reachable from within the chroot (assuming the exploited application does not have the privileges to break out of a chroot jail...