computer file

This article is provided by FOLDOC - Free Online Dictionary of Computing (foldoc.org)

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).

Except for ASCII text files, which contain only raw text, all other data files have proprietary structures. Formatting and descriptive information are contained in headers at the beginning of the file and/or in tags interspersed throughout the file. XML is an example of a very popular tagged text file. See metadata and XML.

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

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.

DataFile 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


 SoftwareFile Type       Contents

 source code     text

 intermediate
  language       binary (bytecode)

 executable      binary
  program         (machine language)

Lotsa Files

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.

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References in periodicals archive

With a fax-modem, documents to be faxed never have to be printed first; the computer file is sent directly to the modem, which then transmits it in the background--that is, the user can be running another program at the same time.

How CPAs count on computers

"Very few of the individual documents and computer files contain any personal data, sensitive or otherwise," he said.

PRISON OFFICERS CLAIM GOVERNMENT COVER-UP; Warders raging over security breach letter

He said he needed to know everything that was on the computer file to ensure the safety of his wife and children as well as himself.

Prison warders attacked after leak

Francis Duffy, 22, from Paisley, had 14 days added to his six-month sentence for discipline matters but he was transferred to Barlinnie and they didn't show up on his computer file.

JAILBIRDS FREED EARLY

Meanwhile, after asking for Kirin's help to find a missing computer file, Priya is horrified to stumble across the faked DNA results.

WE LOVE SOAPS

The Entrustet service allows customers to create a list of online accounts and computer files and decide if each account or computer file should be deleted or transferred to an heir when the user passes away.Country: USASector: IT/Online ServicesTarget: EntrustetBuyer: DSwiss Ltd, SecureSafe Vendor: Nathan LustigType: Corporate acquisitionStatus: Closed

SecureSafe buys US rival Entrustet

Unfortunately, a corrupted computer file transposed on to the end of the article material from elsewhere, which had nothing to do with Mr Kaithapram and was not part of the original copy.

Madhu Kaithapram