Temporary file

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A temporary file is a computer file used to store information for a short time; the file is then deleted after its use. They are often stored in a temporary folder and/or with the .TMP file extension.

Temporary files are usually created by applications that need to store information that is either too big for storage in RAM or that needs to be saved in non-volatile memory (such as a hard drive). An example of data requiring non-volatile storage would be any data needed after a computer reboots, since after this data would be lost if it were stored in the RAM memory.

Microsoft Windows uses many temporary files to store data about the users' web browsing history and settings. The most common files associated with Windows temporary files are index.dat and the entire "Cookies" folder under "Documents and Settings" that stores HTTP cookies.

Some programs create temporary files and then leave them behind. This can happen because the program crashed or because the developer of the program simply forgot to add the code needed to delete the temporary files after the program is done with them. The temporary files left behind by the programs accumulate over time and can take up a lot of disk space. A recent series of system utilities, called temporary file cleaners or disk cleaners, have appeared to address this issue.