In the Finder or file manager, the Trash or Recycle Bin can be viewed by the user as a special Folder (file directory), allowing the user to browse the files and retain those still wanted before deleting the others permanently (either one by one, or via an 'empty trash' command). The concept and name is part of Macintosh operating systems, a similar implementation is called the Recycle Bin in Microsoft Windows, other operating systems use other names.
In computing, the trash is a graphical user interface desktop metaphor for temporary storage for files set aside by the user for deletion, but not yet permanently erased. Example of a trash can or recycling bin 'containing files' icon, here designed by the Tango Desktop Project.