--- title: "Where a File Lives: Folders, Names and Backups" description: "Folders can contain files and other folders. A path gives a file's location. Clear names help you find saved work, while a usable backup on a separate device or backup service helps you recover it aft" canonical: https://lightmysky.com/learn/computing/where-a-file-lives-folders-names-and-backups-mt_UvLO9CA3BY source: https://lightmysky.com/learn/computing/where-a-file-lives-folders-names-and-backups-mt_UvLO9CA3BY.md retrieved: 2026-11-12 --- > **Agent view.** This is the Markdown twin of the page, for tools and assistants. > When to use this site, and the call that answers each job: https://lightmysky.com/agent-instructions.md > API description (OpenAPI 3.1): https://lightmysky.com/openapi.json · Authentication: https://lightmysky.com/auth.md > Pricing: https://lightmysky.com/pricing.md · Catalog: https://lightmysky.com/llms.txt · Full catalog: https://lightmysky.com/llms-full.txt > Every machine-readable file on this domain: https://lightmysky.com/.well-known/ai-catalog.json > Ask for Markdown with `Accept: text/markdown`, a `.md` address, or `?mode=agent`. # Where a File Lives: Folders, Names and Backups Folders can contain files and other folders. A path gives a file's location. Clear names help you find saved work, while a usable backup on a separate device or backup service helps you recover it after loss. Subject: Computing · Area: Digital Literacy · Ages 9 to 11 Page: https://lightmysky.com/learn/computing/where-a-file-lives-folders-names-and-backups-mt_UvLO9CA3BY ## Ready when they can - Read a path and say which folder a file is in and what that folder is inside - Move a file and copy a file, and say what is different about the result - Explain what a file extension usually suggests, and why keeping only one saved copy risks losing the work ## Lesson: Know where your file lives Enter file and folder names carefully. You can look at the keys while you type. A file path shows where to find a file. It gives folder names in order, then the file name. Here, / separates names. In Documents/Stories/fox.txt, open Documents, then Stories. The file fox.txt is inside Stories, and Stories is inside Documents. *(drawing: Read from left to right: Documents contains Stories, and Stories contains fox.txt.)* A file manager shows files and folders. With a mouse, you can usually select a file with one click and open a folder with two quick clicks. Look for Copy and Paste in its menus. To copy, select the file, choose Copy, open the destination folder, then choose Paste. The source stays put. To move, use Move, or Cut then Paste if offered. A successful move removes the source file from the old folder. Earlier copies are unchanged. An extension is the ending after the last dot in a file name. It usually suggests the format and helps the device choose an app. Format means how the data is stored. For pictures, .jpg suggests JPEG and .heic suggests HEIC. If another app needs JPEG, use a photo app's export or conversion tool to make a JPEG copy. Renaming .heic to .jpg does not change the format. *(drawing: Export saves a picture in the chosen format. Renaming its extension alone does not.)* Choose a file name that describes the work. For a garden plan, garden-plan.txt is easier to recognise than stuff.txt. Save it in a folder that fits, such as Projects. A clear name and a suitable folder help you find it later. A backup is an extra copy kept for recovery if the first is lost. Two folders on one laptop share that laptop's risks. If it breaks, both copies may be lost. Keep a backup on a separate device or a backup service. Sync alone may copy a deletion too. Ask a trusted adult to help choose storage, check that the backup opens, and update it after changes. **Recap.** Follow the path, use clear names, and keep a usable backup off the original device. *Original lesson, questions and flashcards written for this learning dataset about file locations, copying, formats and backups.* ## Practice 8 questions on this page, each with its working shown. ## Optional connections - [Typing Without Looking at the Keys](https://lightmysky.com/learn/computing/typing-without-looking-at-the-keys-mt_BJ_yVASyuV) ## Opens up - [Memory and Storage: RAM, ROM and the Backing Store](https://lightmysky.com/learn/computing/memory-and-storage-ram-rom-and-the-backing-store-mt_AiXGJioO_S)