OverviewFolders
Files are usually organized into groups using folders. Folders are essentially just containers for files. Like files, folders have names that you can use to access them. Each folder can contain any number of files, and even other folders (or "sub-folders").
Note: A "sub-folder" is just a folder that happens to be located in another folder. You can make any folder a sub-folder by placing it in another folder.
Windows uses a hierarchical file system. This means that storage space can be organized into multiple levels of folders and sub-folders, forming what is often referred to as a "directory tree." The base of the directory structure is known as the root folder, or just the "root" for short. Within this root folder there can be files and sub-folders, and within those sub-folders there can be other files and sub-folders as well.
Note: Every file on your computer is located in a folder, whether it's the root folder on one of your drives, or some other folder located inside the root folder. (Or a folder inside a folder that is inside the root folder, or a folder inside a folder that is inside a folder that is...well, you get the idea.)
This hierarchy of folders is why every file has a path. A path is a string of text that describes where a file is stored. It's basically just a list of the different folders that you would need to open in order to reach the file.
Each folder acts like a container for all the files and folders that are "in" it. The files and sub-folders in a folder can be copied, moved or deleted all at once by copying, moving or deleting the folder that contains them.
Much like hanging folders in a filing cabinet, folders make it easier to organize and locate your files. If the files on a computer were all kept in one place, it would be very difficult to find a particular file. Folders allow related files to be grouped together so it's easier to find them.
Note: Folders are also often called directories. In Windows, the terms "folder" and "directory" both refer to the same thing.
Next: Drives