@@ 2878,20 2878,34 @@ with @code{build-expression->derivation} (@pxref{Derivations,
@section The Store
@cindex store
+@cindex store items
@cindex store paths
Conceptually, the @dfn{store} is the place where derivations that have
been built successfully are stored---by default, @file{/gnu/store}.
-Sub-directories in the store are referred to as @dfn{store paths}. The
-store has an associated database that contains information such as the
-store paths referred to by each store path, and the list of @emph{valid}
-store paths---paths that result from a successful build.
-
-The store is always accessed by the daemon on behalf of its clients
+Sub-directories in the store are referred to as @dfn{store items} or
+sometimes @dfn{store paths}. The store has an associated database that
+contains information such as the store paths referred to by each store
+path, and the list of @emph{valid} store items---results of successful
+builds. This database resides in @file{/var/guix/db} (or under whatever
+state directory was specified @i{via} @option{--localstatedir} at
+configure time).
+
+The store is @emph{always} accessed by the daemon on behalf of its clients
(@pxref{Invoking guix-daemon}). To manipulate the store, clients
connect to the daemon over a Unix-domain socket, send requests to it,
and read the result---these are remote procedure calls, or RPCs.
+@quotation Note
+Users must @emph{never} modify files under @file{/gnu/store} directly.
+This would lead to inconsistencies and break the immutability
+assumptions of Guix's functional model (@pxref{Introduction}).
+
+@xref{Invoking guix gc, @command{guix gc --verify}}, for information on
+how to check the integrity of the store and attempt recovery from
+accidental modifications.
+@end quotation
+
The @code{(guix store)} module provides procedures to connect to the
daemon, and to perform RPCs. These are described below.