Formats like ZIP or 7Z act like digital suitcases, shrinking multiple files into one smaller package for easier sharing. 4. The Modern Shift: Cloud vs. Local
Keep 3 copies of important files, on 2 different types of media, with 1 copy stored off-site (the cloud). Formats like ZIP or 7Z act like digital
At its most basic level, a digital file is a collection of binary data (1s and 0s) stored as a single unit on a computer. It has three defining characteristics: The actual data (text, pixels, or audio). Local Keep 3 copies of important files, on
Offer speed and offline access but are vulnerable to hardware failure. Offer speed and offline access but are vulnerable
Long before Silicon Valley, a "file" was a physical object. The word comes from the Latin filum , meaning "thread." In early record-keeping, documents were literally strung together on a thread to keep them in order.
The suffix (like .docx or .jpg) that tells the operating system which program should open it. 3. Common File Types and Their Uses