When using windows operating system, new users are confused between them. Normally, all kind of data in your hard disk drive is stored either in files or folder.
File: It is collection of information, like a program, set of different kind of data which is used by any program. A file is the main storage unit that enable a computer to make difference from one set of information to another. It is a collection of different formats data that a user can modify, delete, save, or send to an output device like a printer, plotter or an e-mail program.
Must Read: What is File Systems and types. Born in the UK, he now lives in the US. Understanding the terminology is important when you are learning about computers. One thing that beginners can find difficult is understanding the difference between files and folders.
Public domain image via Pixabay. All of the data on your computer's hard drive consists of folders and files, so it is important to understand what the terminology actually means. While there are quite a few differences between folders and files, some of which I will list in the section below, the essential concepts for a beginner to understand are that:. Folders, sometimes referred to as directories, are essential for computers to run efficiently, without them there would be no organization of data and the computer would spend a lot of time searching for files.
Folders are especially useful for programs, because they enable the swift location of the files that the program needs to perform its tasks smoothly. Having taught basic computers, I am aware of some of the main reasons why people get confused about the difference between folders and files. One problem is that the icon commonly used to portray a folder on computers is an image of the folded card receptacle found in traditional office filing cabinets that's known as a "Manila file folder".
The inclusion of the word "file" in the term "Manila file folder" misleads some people. It's best just to think of it as a "Manila folder" to avoid confusion. Although it is generally true that folders hold files and other folders, but files don't, there are occasional cases where files can act like folders. One common example is compressed files, such as ZIP files. Notify me of followup comments via e-mail. Written by : Sagar Khillar. Print [1]Stokes, Abby.
New York City: Workman Publishing, User assumes all risk of use, damage, or injury. You agree that we have no liability for any damages. What is a File? What is a Folder? Difference between File and Folder Definition — A file is a collection of related data or information that is stored in a secondary storage device.
Storage — A file basically stores data or information in your computer memory in a single unit. Characteristic — Each file is identified by its file type as specified by the extension of the file.
File vs. Folder: Comparison Chart Summary of File vs. Folder In a nutshell, a file is a collection of related data or information that is stored in a secondary storage device in a given order whereas a folder or a directory is like a manila folder in a office file cabinet used to store a set of related files or other folders into groups for better organization and retrieval. Author Recent Posts. Sagar Khillar. He has that urge to research on versatile topics and develop high-quality content to make it the best read.
Thanks to his passion for writing, he has over 7 years of professional experience in writing and editing services across a wide variety of print and electronic platforms. Outside his professional life, Sagar loves to connect with people from different cultures and origin. You can say he is curious by nature.
He believes everyone is a learning experience and it brings a certain excitement, kind of a curiosity to keep going. Latest posts by Sagar Khillar see all.
0コメント