file

n 1: a set of related records (either written or electronic) kept

together [syn: {data file}]

2: a line of persons or things ranged one behind the other

[syn: {single file}, {Indian file}]

3: a container for keeping papers in order [syn: {file cabinet},

{filing cabinet}]

4: a steel hand tool with small sharp teeth on some or all of

its surfaces; used for smoothing wood or metal

v 1: register in a public office or in a court of law; "file for

divorce"; "file a complaint" [syn: {register}]

2: smooth with a file; "file one's fingernails"

3: proceed in file

4: file a formal charge against; "The suspect was charged with

murdering his wife" [syn: {charge}, {lodge}]

5: place in a file [syn: {file away}]

file

An element of data storage in a {file system}.

The history of computing is rich in varied kinds of files and

{file systems}, whether ornate (e.g., {Macintosh file system}

for a well-known case) or deficient (e.g., many simple

pre-1980s file systems don't allow {directories}).

However, the prototypical file has these characteristics:

▫ It is a single sequence of bytes (but consider {Macintosh}

{resource forks}).

▫ It has a finite length, unlike, e.g. a {Unix} {device}.

▫ It is stored in a {non-volatile storage} medium (but see

{ramdrive}).

▫ It exists (nominally) in a {directory}.

▫ It has a name that it can be referred to by in file

operations, possibly in combination with its {path}.

Additionally, a file system may associate other information

with a file, such as {permission} bits or other {file

attributes}; timestamps for file creation, last revision, and

last access; revision numbers (a` la VMS), and other kinds of

{magic}.

(1997-04-08)