The word "file" derives from the Latin filum ("a thread, string").
"File" was used in the context of computer storage as early as … See more

On most modern operating systems, files are organized into one-dimensional arrays of bytes. The format of a file is defined by its content since a file … See more

Many modern computer systems provide methods for protecting files against accidental and deliberate damage. Computers that allow for multiple users implement See more

When a file is said to be corrupted, it is because its contents have been saved to the computer in such a way that they cannot be properly read, either by a human or by … See more

In modern computer systems, files are typically accessed using names (filenames). In some operating systems, the name is associated with the … See more

Any file that has any useful purpose must have some physical manifestation. That is, a file (an abstract concept) in a real computer system must have a real physical analogue if it is to exist at all.
In physical terms, most computer files are stored on some … See more

When computer files contain information that is extremely important, a back-up process is used to protect against disasters that might destroy the files. Backing up files simply means making copies of the files in a separate location so that they can be … See more