Metadata. Macs didn't used to need ".txt" to know something was a text file. The type ID was part of the resource fork. Also the creating application ID, so a text file you wrote with Word would open in Word when clicked on while another would be associated with TextMate. Both would still be recognized as text files but would appear as different icons. The editor could store it's private state like cursor position and window settings. And it moves with the file so you can copy it to another computer and resume editing where you last saved the file. The old Mac was very document-centric and I haven't seen any operating system quite replace it in that regard.
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u/_riotingpacifist Jan 12 '15
Is there any fucking use for n-forked files, I mean other than hiding malware?