In SharePoint, when a file is checked out, who can edit the file before checking it back in?

• A. The file is always locked and cannot be edited.
• B. Any user with access can edit it before check-in.
• C. Anyone who knows the file location can edit it.
• D. Only the user who checked out can edit the file before checking it back in.

Answer: (D)

In SharePoint, checking out a file creates an exclusive lock for the person who checked it out. That means only that user is allowed to make changes while the file is checked out, while others can view the document but cannot edit or save a new version until it’s checked back in. This mechanism helps prevent conflicting edits and preserves a clean version history.

So the reason this is the correct understanding is that the checkout process intentionally restricts editing to the checkout owner until check-in. If the file is checked in, the lock is released and others can edit or re-check-out as needed.