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Definition: file
A collection of bytes stored as an individual entity on every computer-based mobile or desktop device. A file is the common denominator of storage. All data and programs, no matter which kind, are stored as files with an assigned file name that must be unique within the storage folder (directory) it resides in. Files with the same name can reside in separate folders. See folder.
Computers Know Nothing About Data Files
To the computer, a data file is nothing more than a string of bytes that is identified by name and location in storage. Once read into the computer's RAM, the structure of a file is known to the software that manipulates it. For example, database files are made up of a series of records (rows) such as one per customer, vendor or transaction. Word processing files contain a continuous flow of text interspersed with format codes (tags).
Computers Do Understand Program Files
In contrast to data files, the computer is inherently aware of the content of an executable program file, which contains machine instructions. When read from storage and written into RAM, the computer is given the starting byte in RAM, and it expects to find the machine language it recognizes and can execute, one instruction following the other (see machine language). Otherwise, it will not execute the program (see abend).
Everything Stored Is a File
File Contents
Following are the major file types and the data structures they contain. See file association, ASCII file, file system and files vs. folders.
Lotsa Files
Computers Know Nothing About Data Files
To the computer, a data file is nothing more than a string of bytes that is identified by name and location in storage. Once read into the computer's RAM, the structure of a file is known to the software that manipulates it. For example, database files are made up of a series of records (rows) such as one per customer, vendor or transaction. Word processing files contain a continuous flow of text interspersed with format codes (tags).
Computers Do Understand Program Files
In contrast to data files, the computer is inherently aware of the content of an executable program file, which contains machine instructions. When read from storage and written into RAM, the computer is given the starting byte in RAM, and it expects to find the machine language it recognizes and can execute, one instruction following the other (see machine language). Otherwise, it will not execute the program (see abend).
The common unit of storage no matter what the application is the file.
File Contents
Following are the major file types and the data structures they contain. See file association, ASCII file, file system and files vs. folders.
Data File Type Contents data file text & binary (table) (rows/records) document text & format codes spreadsheet rows/columns of cells image rows/columns of pixels drawing list of vectors CD audio digitized sound waves compressed audio (MP3, compressed digitized AAC, etc.) sound waves MIDI MIDI instructions video digital video frames Web page text, HTML tags & (HTML file) JavaScript XML file text batch file text text file text Software File Type Contents source code text intermediate language binary (bytecode) executable binary program (machine language)
Files add up quicker than people realize. A virus scan in 2021 of this Mac identified more than a million files. Hard to believe such a large quantity exists when there are approximately 50 apps installed in the machine.