Configuration file

In <a href="/facts/Computing/Kghtm9fX">computing</a>, configuration files (commonly known simply as config files) are <a href="/facts/Computer_file/FjFH3Ufm">files</a> used to configure the <a href="/facts/Parameter_(computer_programming)/LcuLbbSq">parameters</a> and <a href="/facts/Initialization_(programming)/rFtbHWvF">initial settings</a> for some <a href="/facts/Computer_program/e38jH9N9">computer programs</a> or <a href="/facts/Application_software/YQuj7Kog">applications</a>, <a href="/facts/Server_(computing)/dEaYFD7r">server processes</a> and <a href="/facts/Operating_system/8XTuvMh2">operating system</a> settings.
Some applications provide tools to create, modify, and verify the <a href="/facts/Syntax/6PxSV98p">syntax</a> of their configuration files; these sometimes have graphical interfaces. For other programs, <a href="/facts/System_administrator/zNhThrh9">system administrators</a> may be expected to create and modify files by hand using a text editor, which is possible because many are human-editable plain text files. For server processes and operating-system settings, there is often no standard tool, but operating systems may provide their own graphical interfaces such as <a href="/facts/YaST/WCK6RKea">YaST</a> or debconf.
Some computer programs only read their configuration files at <a href="/facts/Booting/j6N1kRpc">startup</a>. Others periodically check the configuration files for changes. Users can instruct some programs to re-read the configuration files and apply the changes to the current process, or indeed to read arbitrary files as a configuration file. There are no definitive standards or strong conventions.

Configuration file open-in-new

Configuration file