Dec 21 2006

Why do we call it a “folder”?

Published by Andrew at 1:21 AM under geeking

OK, this just occurred to me while reading a client ticket.

Why do the Windows / Mac world insist on calling file system directories “folders”?
When dealing with real file cabinets and files, you put A file in A folder. You don’t put multiple files in a single file folder. A folder contains exactly one file.
So why is a directory, which holds many files, get called a “folder”? Wouldn’t “drawer” be more accurate?