# What does . in .node-red mean?
**URL:** https://discourse.nodered.org/t/what-does-in-node-red-mean/41198
**Category:** General
**Created:** [17 February 2021 20:33 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/what-does-in-node-red-mean/41198 "2021-02-17T20:33:38Z")
**Posts on this page:** 5
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@a1ex](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/a1ex)
#### Post date: [17 February 2021 20:33 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/what-does-in-node-red-mean/41198/1 "2021-02-17T20:33:38Z")
Excuse the ignorance, but what does the dot (.) in .node-red mean/do? I haven't seen it in folder paths before and am scratching my head over its use in node-red. I just want to know what it is, because it seems important. Thanks!
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### Author:  [@edje11](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/edje11)
#### Post date: [17 February 2021 20:45 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/what-does-in-node-red-mean/41198/2 "2021-02-17T20:45:48Z")
In linux and windows a dot is hidden directory.
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### Author:  [@a1ex](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/a1ex)
#### Post date: [17 February 2021 20:59 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/what-does-in-node-red-mean/41198/3 "2021-02-17T20:59:23Z")
Thanks, @edje11!
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### Author:  [@PeterH](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/PeterH)
#### Post date: [18 February 2021 10:58 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/what-does-in-node-red-mean/41198/4 "2021-02-18T10:58:59Z")
Its only in Linux (or other nix-systems).
In windows the dot does not mean anything..
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### Author:  [@system](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/system)
#### Post date: [4 March 2021 10:59 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/what-does-in-node-red-mean/41198/5 "2021-03-04T10:59:56Z")
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