Files Glossary

Browse 8 files terms defined in plain English, from the cultural dictionary of computing.

8 Files Terms

Archive
A packaged collection of files, often compressed and stored in a format such as zip, tar, or tar.gz for transfer, backup, or distribution. Archives are also...
Attachment
A file or binary object associated with another item such as an email, message, ticket, or record. In application development, attachments often require...
Config File
A file that stores settings controlling how an application or tool behaves, often in formats like JSON, YAML, TOML, or INI. Config files separate...
Copy
To duplicate data, files, objects, or values so the same content exists in another location or memory region. In software discussions, copy can also imply...
File Encryption
The encryption of individual files so their contents can only be read with the appropriate key or decryption authority. It is commonly used for sensitive...
Integrity Check
A test used to confirm that data, files, firmware, or system state have not been altered unexpectedly. Integrity checks commonly rely on hashes, signatures,...
Rsync
A file transfer and synchronization utility known for copying only changed parts of files efficiently.
Syncthing
A peer-to-peer file synchronization tool that lets devices replicate files directly without a central cloud service.

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