Lesson 14: Use Hidden Items, Shortcuts, and File Archives

Question 1

Why does the Finder hide certain folders at the root of the system volume?

Answer 1

The Finder hides certain folders — ones that contain resource items for macOS processes — from average users at the root of the system volume, because the average user doesn’t need access to those items.

If you need access to these hidden files and folders, you can use Terminal.

Question 2

Which two methods can you use to hide items in macOS?

Answer 2

You can hide items in macOS by using either of these methods:

• Use Terminal to add a period to the beginning of a filename, see: man mv.
• Enable the hidden file flag, see: man chflags. (A hidden flag hides the items only in the Finder.)

Question 3

What are some ways to navigate to hidden folders in macOS?

Answer 3

You can navigate to hidden folders in the following ways:

• Use the Go to Folder option in the Go menu <kbd>Shift-Command-G</kbd>
• Hold down the <kbd>Option</kbd> key in the Go menu to make the Library option visible
• Press <kbd>Shift-Command-Period</kbd> in the Finder to display all hidden items

Question 4

What’s the difference between a package and a bundle?

Answer 4

The difference between a package and a bundle is described below:

• A package: Any folder that the Finder presents to the user as if it were a single file
• A bundle: A folder with a standardized hierarchical structure that holds executable code and the resources used by that code.

Question 5

What are the four primary file-system shortcut types that macOS uses and how are they used?

Answer 5

The macOS file system uses four primary shortcut types:

1. Aliases are more resilient than other shortcuts. When the original item is replaced or moved, the alias almost never loses the original item.
2. Symbolic links are pointers to the file-system path of the original item.
3. Hard links reference the original item and point to the bits on the physical storage device. (See man ln.)
4. Firm links allow navigation between folders that straddle the read-only APFS System volume and the read-write APFS Data volume. (See man synthetic.conf.)

Question 6

Why would you use a ZIP archive instead of a disk image?

Why would you use a disk image instead of a ZIP archive?

Answer 6

To differentiate why you would use a ZIP archive instead of a disk image or a disk image instead of a ZIP archive, follow this rationale:

• For small amounts of data, you would compress files and folders into ZIP archives.
• For larger data or the entire file system, you would create a disk image.

Additionally, archive files are much simpler to create in the Finder and are compatible with third-party operating systems.

Disk images are more difficult to create and manage, but offer greater flexibility, primarily because you can easily modify and convert them.

Remember that macOS disk images can be accessed only by Mac computers. (Other systems require third-party software to access Mac disk images.)

Question 7

What type of file does the Finder create when you select the Archive option?

Answer 7

The Finder creates a compressed ZIP archive file when you select the Archive option.

Question 8

What action on macOS Big Sur is set as the default for expanding the ZIP archive files?

Answer 8

By default on macOS Big Sur, double-clicking a ZIP archive file causes the system to expand the contents of the ZIP archive.