“Tmp” is short for “temporary.” It refers to something meant to last only for a short time—like a quick note, a placeholder file, or a folder that gets cleaned up later.
In everyday life, people type “tmp” when they’re saving a quick draft, naming a folder they’ll delete soon, or chatting to say, “This is just a tmp fix until we get the real one.” Developers also see it all the time in paths like /tmp/ on Linux or Windows’ Temp folder, where apps drop scratch files that vanish on reboot.
Meaning & Usage Examples
• File: “report_tmp.docx” – a draft you’ll rename later.
• Folder: “tmp_pics” – photos you’re editing before moving them to the cloud.
• Chat: “Here’s a tmp link, I’ll send the final one tonight.”
Context / Common Use
You’ll spot “tmp” in code, file names, system folders, and quick Slack messages. It’s the universal shorthand for “don’t get too attached—this won’t stay long.”
Is tmp always safe to delete?
Usually, yes. If it’s in a system Temp folder and nothing is running, you can trash it. Just don’t delete tmp files an open program is still using.
Can I rename a tmp file to keep it?
Absolutely. Just change “tmp” to a proper name so it won’t get swept up in the next cleanup.
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