/var/spool : Application spool data

/var/spool contains data which is awaiting some kind of later processing. Data in /var/spool represents work to be done in the future (by a program, user, or administrator); often data is deleted after it has been processed.

The following directories, or symbolic links to directories, must be in /var/spool, if the corresponding subsystem is installed:

Directory Description
lpd Printer spool directory (optional)
mqueue Outgoing mail queue (optional)
news News spool directory (optional)
rwho Rwhod files (optional)
uucp Spool directory for UUCP (optional)

The lock file for lpd, lpd.lock, must be placed in /var/spool/lpd. It is suggested that the lock file for each printer be placed in the spool directory for that specific printer and named lock.

Directory Description
printer Spools for a specific printer (optional)

This directory holds the rwhod information for other systems on the local net.

Some BSD releases use /var/rwho for this data; given its historical location in /var/spool on other systems and its approximate fit to the definition of `spooled' data, this location was deemed more appropriate.