File dialog

<p>In computing, a file dialog (also called file selector/chooser, file requester, or open and save dialog) is a <a href="/facts/Dialog_box/VgWHgrE2">dialog box</a>-type <a href="/facts/Graphical_control_element/SuVeScB2">graphical control element</a> that allows users to choose a <a href="/facts/Computer_file/FjFH3Ufm">file</a> from the <a href="/facts/File_system/FdPm90uc">file system</a>. They differ from <a href="/facts/File_manager/t7CSQ40a">file managers</a> as they are not intended for file management, although some offer simple operations such as <a href="/facts/Directory_(file_systems)/VLtLcEXY">folder</a> creation and renaming. Rather they are intended for the opening and saving of files.
</p><p>Before file dialogs, most programs requested files as a <a href="/facts/Command_line/R9JpGmXQ">command line</a> argument or as an exact file path. Others required users to select a file from the file manager. A file dialog allows an application to access individual files in a standardized and secure way, with the user in control of what files to share with the application. Mobile phone operating systems lack file selection dialogs. Instead users are expected to give applications control over the whole file system.
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File dialog open-in-new

File dialog