A document is a permanent record of information that can be retrieved at a later time by a user. It can refer to both handwritten or typed records of information and records created and stored in a digital format using computers and other digital devices such as tablets and smartphones. A computer document is a file created by a software application, which can contain text, images, audio, video, and other types of data. Each digital document is saved as a file with a unique name that differentiates it from all other documents. A document can be created with a computer application such as a spreadsheet or word processor, and it is a unit of saved work. A document can be made into a hard copy by printing it. Here are some common examples of documents:
- letters
- sales invoices
- wills and deeds
- newspaper issues
- individual newspaper stories
- oral history recordings
- executive orders
- meeting minutes
- product specifications
- financial statements
- certificates
A document is represented with both an icon and a filename, where the icon provides a visual representation of the file type, while the filename provides a unique name for the file. Most document filenames also include a file extension, which defines the file type of the document. For example, a Microsoft Word document may have a .DOCX file extension, while a Photoshop document may have a .PSD file extension.
