7.2. What's in a Name?
One of the contributions that UNIX made to the world of operating systems was the simple notion that everything is just a file. Under UNIX, a Word document is obviously a file. But the folder it's stored in is also a file, as is the hard disk that contains the folder. Finally, and less intuitively, even devices like DVD drives, monitors, and printers are considered files under UNIX. This simple yet elegant approach greatly simplifies the way programmers work with devices, directories, and ordinary files.
As you see in the following descriptions, AppleScript still distinguishes files from folders in many cases.
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