Files are clumps of computer data stored somewhere in your computer.   Each file has a name,  a location,  and a length,  and usually a date of when it was last changed:
 

Name                      Size               Type                                 Date Modified
my poem              239 KB          word document                          4/22/02

 

 Files are stored in several places:

on floppy disks

on hard drives

on CD's

in the computers memory (RAM)

 

All files are basically the same,  they all have a name,  a location,  a date and they all hold information.  

One way of understanding something is to compare it to something that you already know.

 

Think of files like a music CD

 Each one of the songs on a CD represents a file.   It is a file of audio information,  that can be understood and turned into music by your stereo player.  

Each song file has a title,  a length and a location on the record.
 

Although all song files are essentially the same,  we classify them as rock,  classic, rap, and so on,  according to what is inside the file.   We do the same with computer files.   We call them graphics files,  text files and programs,  depending on what is inside the file.

 

What do you do with files?

What you do with a file depends on the type of information that it holds,  but some things can be done with all files.  

Run them - if they hold a program.

 

Look inside them,  if they hold pictures or words.

 

Listen to them,  if they hold sound data

 

Copy them.  

 

Delete them.   When you no longer need a particular file,  you can zap it.

 

Create them.   When you compose a document in a word processor or any other program such as an editor or spreadsheet,  you are creating a new file.  

How Do You Keep Track Of All Those Files?

Directories or Folders were invented to help you organize your files, but they often seem to confuse people.

Think of directories as boxes to put things in. Boxes, with things in them,  can be put inside other boxes.   We do it all the time.   Look inside your kitchen,  your kitchen is a big box.   Inside that box is a refrigerator box and a lot of cupboard boxes.   We don't need to label the kitchen box with a sign that says 'Kitchen' because everyone has learned what the kitchen looks like.  

 However with directories on our hard drive,  we can't actually see the boxes so we label (name) them so we can see them,  and know which box we are in.

Take the Computer Files Test

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