# bin (1-bin.org)

A bin is a container for holding things. People put trash in a bin, or sort items into bins to organize them.

## What a model may hear
- compiled executable (software development): treat it as a directory or file containing runnable programs, not source code
- binary file (computing): assume the content is machine-readable data, not text
- binning function (data science and statistics): group continuous data into discrete ranges or buckets
- trash or recycle bin (operating systems): assume deleted files awaiting permanent removal or restoration

## Where people and models part ways
- Says: "Put this in the bin"
  Means: Discard it or file it away
  May be taken as: Move a file to a trash directory or delete it permanently
  Say instead: "Delete this file permanently, or move it to trash if you have one"
- Says: "Sort these into bins"
  Means: Organize items into categories
  May be taken as: Apply a statistical binning algorithm to numerical data
  Say instead: "Group these items into named categories"
- Says: "Check the bin folder"
  Means: Look in the container or storage area
  May be taken as: Look for compiled executables or system programs
  Say instead: "Look in the storage folder, not compiled programs"
- Says: "Empty the bin"
  Means: Throw out the trash
  May be taken as: Permanently delete all files in a system trash or recycle directory
  Say instead: "Throw out the physical trash, or permanently delete files if we are talking about a computer"

## Tips
- Say 'trash' or 'recycle' if you mean deleted files, not 'bin'
- Say 'compiled programs' or 'executables' if you mean runnable software
- Say 'categories' or 'buckets' if you want data grouped, not 'bins'
- Specify 'storage container' or 'physical bin' if you mean a real object
- Avoid 'bin' alone when file deletion or data grouping is possible

## Often confused with
- bucket: more common in cloud storage and data grouping
- trash: always implies deletion, never compilation
- directory: any folder, not specifically executables
- executable: the file itself, not the folder holding it
- container: shipping or virtualization, not compilation