Exporting a folder tree means generating a structured list or diagram showing the hierarchy of folders and subfolders within a specific directory on your computer or storage system. It captures the names and nested relationships, essentially providing a map of how data is organized without including the actual file contents. This differs from a simple file list which may only show files within one location without indicating the underlying folder structure.

This technique is commonly used for project documentation, audits, or migrations in fields like IT, software development, data management, and archival work. For instance, a software developer might export the folder tree of their project source code to include in documentation. A data analyst might document the structure of a dataset's storage location. Tools used include the tree command in Windows Command Prompt or Linux/macOS Terminal, specialized utilities like WinDirStat (graphically), or scripting languages like Python with the os module.

The primary advantage is quickly visualizing and documenting complex file organization for reference or communication. However, the exported tree is a static snapshot; it won't automatically reflect later changes to the actual directory. It also doesn't show individual files within folders unless explicitly configured to do so, and file permission restrictions might prevent accessing parts of the tree. The specific export method (command syntax, output format options like TXT or HTML) often depends on the operating system and tools used.