ordners

Ordner is a German term that refers to two related concepts for organizing information: physical binders for paper documents and digital folders in a computer file system. In German usage, Ordner denotes a binder, while in computing it is equivalent to a folder or directory that groups files and subfolders.

A typical binder consists of a rigid cover and spine, punched paper sheets, and metal or plastic rings that hold the pages together. Ring configurations commonly include 2-ring, 3-ring, and 4-ring designs, with sizes ranging from about half an inch to several inches in diameter. Materials include cardboard or plastic covers, often with interior pockets, and it is common to add dividers, tabbed inserts, and spine labels to aid navigation. Binders are used in offices, schools, and personal organization; they are refillable and reusable.

In computing, a folder (Ordner) is a container for files and other folders that organizes data within a hierarchical file system. Folders exist on local storage, network shares, and cloud services, and are accessed via graphical interfaces or command line tools. Typical operations include creating, renaming, moving, and deleting folders, and setting permissions. Files are located by navigating a path such as C:\Docs\Reports or /home/user/docs. Consistent naming and a clear hierarchy improve findability and management.

Origin: the word comes from German ordnen, meaning to arrange or organize.

See also: Binder, file folder, directory, file system.