file
Loading your saved state.
file
A collection of related data that is stored under a specific name on a computer or another digital storage medium.
Bitte vergiss nicht, die Datei zu speichern, bevor du das Programm schließt.
Please don't forget to save the file before you close the program.
In a computer context, 'Datei' (file) is combined with certain verbs. The most important are: 'eine Datei speichern' (to save a file), 'öffnen' (to open), 'schließen' (to close), 'löschen' (to delete), 'erstellen' (to create), and 'an eine E-Mail anhängen' (to attach to an email).
Ich habe dir die wichtigen Dokumente als Datei angehängt.
I attached the important documents as a file for you.
'Datei' (file) is a very productive base word for many compounds in the computer field. Examples are 'Textdatei' (text file), 'Bilddatei' (image file), 'PDF-Datei' (PDF file), 'Dateiname' (file name), or 'Dateigröße' (file size).
Kannst du mir bitte die Bilddatei in einer höheren Auflösung schicken?
Could you please send me the image file in a higher resolution?
The word 'Datei' (file) is closely related to 'Daten' (data, plural of Datum, information) and 'Kartei' (an index-card system). A file is therefore a modern, digital form of an index card for storing data.
Früher wurden Adressen in einer Kartei aus Papier verwaltet.
In the past, addresses were managed in a paper card index.
document
Dokument and Datei can both refer to a saved text or PDF. Dokument refers to the content or document itself, while Datei refers to the related data as a digital storage object. Use Dokument for what is read or edited, and Datei for what is stored.
Die Datei mit dem Vertrag liegt im gemeinsamen Ordner.
The file containing the contract is in the shared folder.
Das Dokument enthält den Vertrag, den wir gestern gemeinsam bearbeitet haben.
The document contains the contract that we worked on together yesterday.
