Over time, various programs and even the operating system store the most varied information in so-called temporary files (TMP files) with the extension .tmp. In most cases, these cache files help free up working memory when using the respective applications and interacting with other programs. They often fulfill the role of back-up copies that temporarily store the current processing status in order to be able to recover a file in case the system crashes.
In theory, TMP files generated ought to be automatically deleted as soon as the respective program is closed or the system is shut down. In practice, though, this isn’t always the case. That’s why it’s possible that, while browsing through directories and files on your system, you might come across temporary files that are not actively in use by either the system or any other software. We’ll show you how to open these TMP files in order to inspect or reproduce the content