File attributes

Settings associated with computer files to allow a computer or network to know how to access that file. For example, IBM compatible computers running MS-DOS or Microsoft Windows have capabilities of having read, archive, system and hidden attributes.

Read - Allows the file just to be read but nothing can be written to the file.

Archive - Tells Windows Backup to backup the file.

System - System file.

Hidden - File will not be shown when doing a regular dir from DOS.

Also see: MS-DOS attrib command, Unix/Linux chmod command