finder

Finder is the default graphical file manager and shell for macOS, Apple's desktop operating system. It provides the primary user interface for navigating the filesystem, launching applications, and organizing files and folders. Finder windows display folders and files, and it integrates with the Desktop and Dock to support drag-and-drop operations, mounting and unmounting volumes, and managing connected devices such as USB drives and network shares. The Finder process runs in the background as the main interface shell and can be restarted if it becomes unresponsive.

Finder has been a central component of macOS since its early releases, evolving from the original Macintosh Finder to the modern Finder that supports advanced file management features. Over time it has gained a configurable Sidebar, a toolbar, and multiple view modes, including Icon, List, and Column views, as well as search and preview capabilities.

Key features include Quick Look for on-screen previews, Spotlight integration for searching, and tagging and Smart Folders for organizing content. It also supports integration with iCloud Drive and other cloud services for accessing files across devices. Users can create new folders, copy or move items with drag and drop, rename items, and manage permissions and metadata via Get Info or the contextual menus.

In macOS, Finder serves as the primary user interface for file operations and system navigation, forming a core part of the user experience and workflow on Apple computers.