A collection of files bundled into a single file for storage or sharing, often compressed.

The nested tree-like structure of folders within folders on a drive.

The top-level folder that contains all other folders on a drive. Referred to as C:.

The complete location of a file or folder, like C:\Users\YourName\Documents\Report.docx.

Temporary files; programs generate in the background. Can usually be safely deleted.

Making files accessible to other computers on a network or the internet.

A file that can be viewed but not edited. Helps protect important data from changes.

Encoding data to take up less space. ZIP and RAR are common compressed formats.

Program files your OS needs to function. Best not to tinker with these.

A small file that just points to another file, folder, or program. Handy for quick access.