30.2. Introducing FileReference

All file access in Flash Player starts at the FileReference class. Not only can a FileReference represent a reference to a file on the user's system, providing access to its attributes and (sometimes) contents, but it controls asynchronous operations like saving and loading those files.

A FileReference doesn't start out associated with a given file. Typically, you create an empty FileReference and then, using methods it provides, you prompt the user for the actual file it should refer to. Once the user makes her choice, it dispatches an event, and the object is set.