An experienced or at least something understanding user does not need to explain what a folder (directory) is . Basically, inexperienced users or, as they are sometimes called, teapots are faced with this question. Well, let's try to briefly consider this topic.
What is a folder on a computer?
If you approach this question from the point of view of finding a simple answer, we can say that the folder, in fact, is a kind of container (name it whatever) that contains data in the form of files or subfolders.
In other words, in the case of subfolders, this somewhat resembles the principle of a nesting doll, when the figures (in which you can put something else) are added together. If only files are present in the folder, it looks, roughly speaking, like one box in which various small items are collected, but there are no other boxes.
The only difference is that in our case the size of the box (or the nesting doll into which you can insert many others) does not matter.
By analogy, for example, the folder of a program installed on a computer can contain both executable files and components, as well as subdirectories containing some additional data. What is most interesting, an executable file or a dynamic library may not always be contained in the main folder.
Folder structure
However, speaking about what a folder is, one cannot but mention that the above-described principle of a nesting doll allows you to organize the so-called tree structure that is used in many file managers, including the standard Windows Explorer.
But here you need to make a small reservation. The fact is that in the form of such a structure, files are not stored on the hard drive, that is, they can be scattered across the entire hard drive and at the same time have different actual location addresses. Based on this, we can conclude that the folder is a kind of virtual storage, shown as a container in the graphical interface of the system for ease of use.
And if we explain what a folder is, in scientific language, it is considered to be the correct definition that a directory is a file that is responsible for virtual ordering of files in one structure and contains records about the root location and the children contained in it. Although for the user it is not a file.
How to make a folder in the simplest way?
Now let's look at the easiest way to create a directory in any file manager. For example, in the same "Explorer" (of course, in the selected location) or on the "Desktop", you can use the right mouse button on free space with the subsequent selection of the "Create ..." / "Folder" pop-up menu command.
After that, a new directory will be created with the default name “New Folder”, and the name will be in the editing stage. It remains only to set the desired name and press the Enter key.
Other file programs work the same way. Sometimes you can use the main menu "File" with the choice of the appropriate command.
Special types of folders and methods for deleting them
As for the types of folders, they can be relatively divided into system and user, hidden, read-only, etc. There can be a lot of attributes. The name of the folder for an experienced user can say a lot. For example, the Recycle Bin directory is a standard Recycle Bin , the System Volume Information folder contains registry entries about recovery checkpoints, etc.
But there are some types of folders, the name of which sometimes says absolutely nothing. Let's see what the MSOCache folder is . In fact, this directory contains the Microsoft Office installation files, so if it is removed from the computer, the reinstallation is performed from this place.
The folder is hidden, and you must delete it very carefully and carefully. It’s just that not everything will be removed. To completely erase it, you need to use Disk Cleanup, where a line that points to the MS Office installation files is selected as the removed components. Otherwise, you will have to delete undeletable files for a very long time, and even edit the registry, sequentially deleting all keys related to the installers of the applications included in this package. And this is not the only example.
In general, with system folders and installation packages, you need to be extremely careful, in particular with Windows installation files or drivers. As they say, you never know what. But if necessary, restore the system’s performance within a few minutes.