Are bitcoins files or physical digital objects?

"Bitcoins do not exist as self-contained files or documents that can be copied, stored, or lost. They exist as balances assigned by the blockchain to particular bitcoin addresses, and a wallet displays the net value derived from incoming and outgoing transactions. A person can lose the ability to spend a balance by losing the password or private key needed to authorize a transaction, but there is no separate coin file that can be misplaced."