Files and folders
What files and folders are, how to tell file types apart, and how to name and organise your things so you can find them.
Files and folders: how computers keep your things organised.
Files and folders
Everything you save on a phone or computer is a file. A photo is a file, a song is a file, and so is a letter you type. Folders are containers that hold files, like drawers in a cupboard. You can even put folders inside other folders. Here's a tidy Documents folder. Inside are two folders, School and Foundation, and three files, a CV, a photo and a report. Double click a folder to open it and see what's inside. On a phone, you just tap it.
New word: File extension
Look at the end of a file name. The letters after the dot are called the extension. They tell you what kind of file it is. Dot J P G is a photo, dot P D F is a document, and dot M P three is a song.
Name your files clearly
Give every file a name that says what it is. Amina CV 2026 is much easier to find than Document 1. If you have more than one version, add a date or a number. Keep files that belong together in the same folder, like all your school work in one place. And try not to save everything on the desktop. It quickly gets messy. Phones have a files app too. It's sometimes called My Files or File Manager. Your downloads, pictures and documents are all inside.
Quick check
Quick check. Which is the best name for a file? Bayo school report June 2026. It says exactly what the file is, so it's easy to find later. Options: Document1; asdfgh; Bayo school report June 2026; New file (3).
Recap
Files are the things you save, and folders hold them. The extension after the dot shows the type of file. Give your files clear names. And keep related files together in folders.
Key points
- A file is one saved thing, such as a photo, song or document. A folder holds files, and can hold other folders too.
- The extension after the dot shows the file type: .jpg photo, .pdf document, .mp3 song, .docx Word file.
- Name files clearly (for example, "Bayo school report June 2026") and keep related files together.
- Phones have a Files app (sometimes called My Files) where you'll find Downloads, images and documents.
Try it: Into the right folder
Sort these files into the right folders. Tap a file, then tap its folder.