In the /etc/passwd file, it is common for system accounts to not have a corresponding /home directory because these accounts are not meant for regular user logins and do not require personal storage space. They're typically used for running specific services or tasks. Standard user accounts should normally be configured with a home directory. The presence of nologin as the shell is an additional confirmation that the account is not intended for interactive login, but it is not a direct indicator of the absence of the home directory. Accounts with shells set to /usr/sbin/nologin or /bin/false can still have home directories configured for storing service data, even though they don't provide shell access. The other answers include misconceptions, as an expired password or incorrect group assignments would not cause an account to lack a home directory; these issues would affect the ability to login or permissions, respectively.