Editing Computer file (section)

=== Moving methods ===
There are two distinct implementations of file moves.

When moving files between devices or partitions, some file managing software deletes each selected file from the source directory '''individually''' after being transferred, while other software deletes '''all files at once''' only after every file has been transferred.

With the <code>[[mv (Unix)|mv]]</code> command for instance, the former method is used when selecting files individually, possibly with the use of [[wildcard character|wildcards]] (example: <code>mv -n sourcePath/* targetPath</code>, while the latter method is used when selecting entire directories (example: <code>mv -n sourcePath targetPath</code>). Microsoft [[Windows Explorer]] uses the former method for [[mass storage]] file moves, but the latter method using [[Media Transfer Protocol]], as described in {{section link|Media Transfer Protocol|File move behavior}}.

The former method (individual deletion from source) has the benefit that space is released from the source device or partition imminently after the transfer has begun, meaning after the first file is finished. With the latter method, space is only freed after the transfer of the entire selection has finished.

If an incomplete file transfer with the latter method is aborted unexpectedly, perhaps due to an unexpected power-off, system halt or disconnection of a device, no space will have been freed up on the source device or partition. The user would need to merge the remaining files from the source, including the incompletely written (truncated) last file.

With the individual deletion method, the file moving software also does not need to cumulatively keep track of all files finished transferring for the case that a user manually aborts the file transfer. A file manager using the latter (afterwards deletion) method will have to only delete the files from the source directory that have already finished transferring.