directory

A collection of files and other subdirectories. Directories are information containers, like files. However, instead of text or other data, directories contain files and other directories. In addition, directories are hierarchically organized; that is, a directory has a parent directory "above" and may also have subdirectories "below." Similarly, each subdirectory can contain other files and also can have more subdirectories. Because they are hierarchically organized, directories provide a logical way to organize files.