File folder

A folder is an office item consisting of a sheet of paper, plastic or similar material folded (usually in the middle) so that two corners touch each other. Documents or similar thin objects can be stored between these two wings of the sheet.

The simplest type is the file cover. It consists of a sheet of cardboard measuring approximately 46 × 31 cm folded in the middle in landscape format and thus folded to approximately 23 × 31 cm. This creates a folder for loosely folded unfolded sheets up to DIN A-4 size. The protruding edge of the file cover protects them from damage. File covers are a more temporary type of storage and are usually offered in 250 g/m² quality. The coloured versions offered are advantageous for organising documents by department, for example.

In the internal mail of public authorities and companies, documents or files are often transported with an in-house mail envelope or a folder (also: cover or folder) or circulation folder, on which an internal address is written: boxes are printed on the front, in which the recipient is entered by the sender. So in each box there is a former recipient who himself became the sender to the address in the box after him. In the last place is the last recipient.

There are several types of folders, such as wing folders. These usually have three wings on one side, which protect the contents of the folder from accidentally falling out.

In Austria, Mappe is also an expression for folder.

Portfolio is also the name given to a compilation of works that must be submitted when applying to courses of study such as art, design or architecture.

See also

• Clip-on folder