The Finder is the default file manager and graphical user interface shell used on all Macintosh operating systems.

Described in its "About" window as "The Macintosh Desktop Experience", it is responsible for the launching of other applications, and for the overall user management of files, disks, and network volumes.

Holding down the option key when opening a folder would also close its parent, but this trick was not discoverable and remained under the purview of power users.

[6] Stewart Alsop II in 1988 said "It is testimony to either the luck or vision of the original designers" of Finder that "the interface has been able to survive tremendous evolution without much essential damage" from 1984.

While criticizing the lack of a right mouse button and MultiFinder's clumsiness, he concluded that "Apple remains the king of user interfaces.

Apple is spending tremendous amounts of money on both development and basic research to remain the leader".

[7] Introducing Mac OS X in 2000, Steve Jobs criticized the original Finder, saying that it "generates a ton of windows, and you get to be the janitor.

"[2] Ars Technica columnist John Siracusa has been a long-standing defender of the spatial interface of the classic Mac OS Finder and a critic of the new design.

[8] Daring Fireball blog author John Gruber has voiced similar criticisms.