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In computing, "trash" refers to a temporary holding area for deleted files, similar to a physical trash can. The "trash" on a Mac or "Recycle Bin" on Windows allows users to restore items if they are deleted accidentally before permanently erasing them. It is also used in programming and computer science to describe unnecessary or unused data or objects that should be removed, like in "garbage collection".

As a temporary storage area

Function: When you delete a file, it is moved to the Trash (macOS, Linux) or Recycle Bin (Windows), not immediately removed from the hard drive.

Purpose: This gives you a chance to recover files you may have deleted by mistake.

Emptying the trash: The files are only permanently deleted and the disk space is freed up when you empty the trash.

As a data concept

Unneeded data: In a broader sense, "trash" can refer to any digital information that is no longer needed, such as old documents, unused applications, or temporary files.

Garbage Collection: In programming, "garbage collection" is the automatic process of finding and deleting unused objects or data to free up memory.

Garbage In, Garbage Out (GIGO): This is an acronym that refers to the idea that the quality of the output is directly dependent on the quality of the input, meaning that if you "put garbage in," you'll get "garbage out".