When you turn on your Mac, you'll always see your
Desktop, .shown below. This is also called the
Finder, although technically the Finder is the application that runs the Desktop. Whenever you see a direction that tells you to go to the Desktop or to the Finder, this is where you need to go.
TIP
Because of the way the computer works, you might
see the Desktop but not actually
be in the Finder. Get in the habit of checking the application menu, as shown top-left. When you are really in the Finder or at the Desktop, the application menu will show "Finder."
As you work on your Mac, you will be using a number of applications in which you'll create your documents, but you'll often want to go back to the Finder, which sort of acts like home base. The name of the
active application, the one that's currently open and available to use (including the Finder), will always be displayed in the application menu. Keep an eye on that menu.
To go to the Finder at any time, do one of these things: