Page "Computer file" Paragraph 5

In 1952 " file " was used in referring to information stored on punched cards.

In early usage people regarded the underlying hardware ( rather than the contents ) as the file.

For example, the IBM 350 disk drives were called " disk files ".

Systems like the Compatible Time-Sharing System introduced the concept of a file system, which managed several virtual " files " on one storage device, giving the term its present-day meaning.

File names in CTSS had two parts, a user-readable " primary name " and a " secondary name " indicating the file type.

This convention remains in use by several operating systems today, including Microsoft Windows.

Although the current term " register file " shows the early concept of files, it has largely disappeared.