hidden file
Obscured system data
A hidden file is a computer file that doesn't appear in normal directory listings.
Operating systems hide certain files—typically system configurations or user preferences—to prevent accidental deletion or modification.
The file exists but requires special commands or settings to view: I had to show hidden files to find the .gitignore.
The convention varies by system; Unix-like systems hide files beginning with a dot.
- invisibleCannot be seen
- secretConcealed information
- systemConnected parts forming whole
- obscuredMade hard to perceive
- concealedMade invisible deliberately
buried · tucked away · preferences · operating system · config · stealth · protected · private · mask · cloak · desktop · right click · folder · extension · reveal · show · unhide · permissions
- DOS ComputingMS-DOS, DOS, DOS prompt, command line, CONFIG.SYS
- filename partsextension, path, underscore, hyphen, dot