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What are files and folders and what is the difference between the two?
A computer file is a basic bundle of data that is stored on your computer and is available to your operating system and any number of compatible software programs.
There are many different files that can be saved on your computer. Image files, text files, video files, and audio files are just a few that come to mind. Each file that is saved in your computer has a name and a file extension. The name of the file can be edited to help you remember what is in the file or what the file is about. The file extension defines what type of file it is.
A computer folder sometimes called a directory is a storage space where program files and the files you are working with can be stored. A good way to imagine a folder is to think of it like an old-fashioned ordinary office folder.
Here's a good example of how you would use a folder. Let's say you want to save some family photos on your computer. To do this you would create a new folder and save it to your desired location. You would name the folder "Family Photos" . Then you would store your family photos or "image files" inside of your folder. Now the next time you want to view your family photos, you would simply double-click your folder and your family photos or "image files" would appear in an orderly list.
As you can see the main purpose of a computer folder is to store and organize your files.
A computer file is a single piece of data that is saved for future use by a program. You cannot save other files inside of a file.
A computer folder is a storage location that is used to store and organize your files. You can store files and other folders inside of a folder.
Thats about all there is to learn about what files and folders really are and how they differ from eachother. The next step is to learn how to manage files and folders...