Editing Computer file (section)

{{short description|Computer resource for recording data on a storage device}}
{{refimprove|date=June 2009}}

A '''computer file''' is a [[System resource|resource]] for recording [[Data (computing)|data]] on a [[Computer data storage|computer storage device]], primarily identified by its [[filename]]. Just as words can be written on paper, so too can data be written to a computer file. Files can be shared with and transferred between [[computers]] and [[Mobile device|mobile devices]] via [[removable media]], [[Computer networks|networks]], or the [[Internet]].

Different [[File format|types of computer files]] are designed for different purposes. A file may be designed to store a written message, a document, a [[spreadsheet]], an [[Digital image|image]], a [[Digital video|video]], a [[computer program|program]], or any wide variety of other kinds of data. Certain files can store multiple data types at once.

By using computer programs, a person can open, read, change, save, and close a computer file. Computer files may be reopened, modified, and [[file copying|copied]] an arbitrary number of times.

Files are typically organized in a [[file system]], which tracks file locations on the disk and enables user access.