i'm confused as to what is an swf file...is it the flash document or the published file???

and when i call for a swf file to load in an empty movie clip what files are supposed to be in the same folder for that to happen.

here is why i ask this stupid question:
when i open my folder with all of my flash crap in it i see flash documents (what flash opens when i start the program), flash movies and html documents (the files that i have published).
but none of them say swf file. (???)