What Does ‘Everything is a File’ Mean in Linux vs. Windows?

That phrase can be a bit abstract. Essentially, it means that many elements in the operating system, like devices and system settings, are represented in a file-like way. This makes it easier for programmers to interact with various components using the same commands we use for files. So in Linux, for example, if you want to check your CPU temperature, you simply read from a specific file in the system. It's about standardizing interaction with the system.

Both Linux and Windows are desktop operating systems at their core, but they manage files and devices differently. Linux has this cool abstraction where, at many levels, devices and resources appear as files, while Windows doesn't quite follow that model. You can think of it like this: in Windows, you have separate ways to access devices—whereas in Linux, you just treat everything like a file. It's not that one is better than the other; they just approach things differently.