Very general file question!

[Geat]

Okay, this:

myfile.txt

is a filename. This:

txt

is that file's extension,

so what is the technical term for the

myfile

part of it?

[Hester]

I'd say it's still the filename. In Windows, if you choose to show files without the extensions, they are still the filenames.

[Geat]

Yeah, but Windows calls directories "folders", so you can't always trust the validity of Microsoft's terminology...

[Hester]

What's wrong with that? They appear as folders on the screen.

Perhaps the word you want is 'document'?

[Geat]

Yes, they appear as folders on the screen because Microsoft called them folders.

[cyberade]

I think I'd have to agree with Hester (but not for the same reasons), the correct terminology is filename .

In your example txt is used to extend the filename in an attempt to categorise the use of the file it describes.
The correct terminology for txt is the filename extension ( as opposed to just 'extension').

I understand the problem though, you can refer to an entity called the filename extension and know that you're referring to the dot and characters following it at the end of the filename.
To refer to just the first bit you have to say the 'filename without the filename extension' - mmm, not good.

Does anybody else know differently?

Perhaps we should invent some terminology - how about the 'filename root'? (Yuck! I've been working on Unix for far to long!)

[Geat]

Fair enough, I'm happy with that!

Shame there isn't some specific, non-ambiguous term to describe it though (and not filename root!)