Persistence of Data
Terminology, page 9
In a file system you have directories and files. Each directory has a top level root directory. Each directory can contain multiple subdirectories and any number of files.
In OLE Structured Storage, the term Storage is used in place of directory, and the term Stream is used in place of file. When working with OLE Structured Storage Files, you start with a top level storage (root storage). This storage can contain additional sub storages and streams. Streams can be created, opened and closed just like files. You can write into streams without worrying that one might interfere with another. OLE Structured Storage takes care of allocating space for streams and storages, and managing space allocation within the disk file.
OLE Structured Storage also defines a name for a disk file that is managed by this technology. These files are called Compound Documents.
