one-file-per-item rule
noun phraseUK /wʌn faɪl pɜː ˈaɪtəm ruːl/
US /wʌn faɪl pɜːr ˈaɪtəm ruːl/
A rule that says each thing gets its own separate file.
Following the one-file-per-item rule, she saved every photo in its own file.
OTHER MEANINGS
2. A coding guideline where each class or module lives in its own source file.
The team adopted the one-file-per-item rule so every class had a matching file name.
3. A record-keeping practice where each document or record is stored as a distinct file.
The archive uses the one-file-per-item rule to keep patient records easy to find.
4. A design principle that keeps content units separate to avoid mixing unrelated data.
By applying the one-file-per-item rule, the config files stayed clean and readable.