diff --git a/doc/stack_root.md b/doc/stack_root.md
index 32224ac63d..65b4dd59a5 100644
--- a/doc/stack_root.md
+++ b/doc/stack_root.md
@@ -1,12 +1,20 @@
 <div class="hidden-warning"><a href="https://docs.haskellstack.org/"><img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/gh/commercialhaskell/stack/doc/img/hidden-warning.svg"></a></div>
 
-# Stack root location
+# Stack root
 
-The Stack root is a directory where Stack stores important files. The location
-and contents of the directory depend on the operating system, whether
-Stack is configured to use the XDG Base Directory Specification, and/or
-whether an alternative location to Stack's default 'programs' directory has
-been specified.
+The Stack root is a directory where Stack stores important files.
+
+On Unix-like operating systems and Windows, Stack can be configured to follow
+the XDG Base Directory Specification if the environment variable `STACK_XDG` is
+set to any non-empty value. However, Stack will ignore that configuration if the
+Stack root location has been set on the command line or the `STACK_ROOT`
+environment variable exists.
+
+## Location
+
+The location of the Stack root depends on the operating system, whether Stack is
+configured to use the XDG Base Directory Specification, and/or whether an
+alternative location to Stack's default 'programs' directory has been specified.
 
 The location of the Stack root can be configured by setting the
 [`STACK_ROOT`](environment_variables.md#stack_root) environment variable or
@@ -25,13 +33,6 @@ command line.
 
 === "Windows"
 
-    The Stack root contains snapshot packages; Stack's global
-    [YAML configuration](yaml_configuration.md#yaml-configuration) file
-    (`config.yaml`); and Stack's
-    [`global-projects`](yaml_configuration.md#yaml-configuration) directory. The
-    default location of tools such as GHC and MSYS2 is outside of the Stack
-    root.
-
     The default Stack root is `%APPDIR%\stack`.
 
     If the `LOCALAPPDATA` environment variable exists, the default location of
@@ -60,17 +61,6 @@ command line.
 
 === "XDG Base Directory Specification"
 
-    On Unix-like operating systems and Windows, Stack can be configured to
-    follow the XDG Base Directory Specification if the environment variable
-    `STACK_XDG` is set to any non-empty value. However, Stack will ignore that
-    configuration if the Stack root location has been set on the command line or
-    the `STACK_ROOT` environment variable exists.
-
-    If Stack is following the XDG Base Directory Specification, the Stack root
-    contains what it would otherwise contain for the operating system, but
-    Stack's global YAML configuration file (`config.yaml`) may be located
-    elsewhere.
-
     The Stack root is `<XDG_DATA_HOME>/stack`. If the `XDG_DATA_HOME`
     environment variable does not exist, the default is `~/.local/share/stack`
     on Unix-like operating systems and `%APPDIR%\stack` on Windows.
@@ -117,3 +107,132 @@ command:
 ~~~text
 stack path --programs
 ~~~
+
+## Contents
+
+The contents of the Stack root depend on the operating system, whether Stack is
+configured to use the XDG Base Directory Specification, and/or whether an
+alternative location to Stack's default 'programs' directory has been specified.
+
+=== "Unix-like"
+
+    The Stack root contains snapshot packages; (by default) tools such as GHC,
+    in a `programs` directory; Stack's global
+    [YAML configuration](yaml_configuration.md#yaml-configuration) file
+    (`config.yaml`); and Stack's
+    [`global-projects`](yaml_configuration.md#yaml-configuration) directory.
+
+=== "Windows"
+
+    The Stack root contains snapshot packages; Stack's global
+    [YAML configuration](yaml_configuration.md#yaml-configuration) file
+    (`config.yaml`); and Stack's
+    [`global-projects`](yaml_configuration.md#yaml-configuration) directory. The
+    default location of tools such as GHC and MSYS2 is outside of the Stack
+    root.
+
+=== "XDG Base Directory Specification"
+
+    If Stack is following the XDG Base Directory Specification, the Stack root
+    contains what it would otherwise contain for the operating system, but
+    Stack's global YAML configuration file (`config.yaml`) may be located
+    elsewhere.
+
+### `config.yaml`
+
+This is Stack's global configuration file. For further information, see the
+documentation for non-project specific
+[configuration](yaml_configuration.md#non-project-specific-configuration).
+
+If the file is deleted, and Stack needs to consult it, Stack will create a file
+with default contents.
+
+### `stack.sqlite3`
+
+This is a 'user' database that Stack uses to cache certain information. The
+associated lock file is `stack.sqlite3.pantry-write-lock`.
+
+### `global-project` directory
+
+This contains:
+
+* an explanation of the directory (`README.txt`);
+* the project-level configuration file (`stack.yaml`) for the global project
+  and its associated lock file (`stack.yaml.lock`); and
+* if created, Stack's working directory (`.stack-work`) for the global project.
+
+If the project-level configuration file is deleted, and Stack needs to consult
+it, Stack will recreate the contents of the directory.
+
+### `pantry\hackage` directory
+
+This contains the package index. If the contents of the directory are deleted,
+and Stack needs to consult the package index, Stack will seek to download the
+latest package index.
+
+### `pantry` directory
+
+This contains:
+
+* the Pantry database used by Stack (`pantry.sqlite3`) and its associated lock
+  file (`pantry.sqlite2.pantry-write-lock`). If the database is deleted, and
+  Stack needs to consult it, Stack will seek to create and initialise it. The
+  database is initialised with information from the package index; and
+* a database of package versions that come with each version of GHC
+  (`global-hints-cache.yaml`).
+
+### `programs` directory
+
+This contains a directory for the platform. That directory contains for each
+installed Stack-supplied tool:
+
+* the archive file for the tool. This can be deleted;
+* a file indicating the tool is installed (`<tool_name>.installed`); and
+* a directory for the tool.
+
+To remove a Stack-supplied tool, delete all of the above. If Stack needs a
+Stack-supplied tool and it is unavailable, Stack will seek to obtain it.
+
+### `setup-exe-cache` directory
+
+This contains a directory for the platform. That directory contains, for each
+version of GHC (an associated version of Cabal (the library)) that Stack has
+used, an executable that Stack uses to access Cabal (the library).
+
+If the contents of the directory are deleted, and Stack needs the executable,
+Stack will seek to rebuild it.
+
+### `setup-exe-src` directory
+
+See the documentation for the
+[`setup-exe-cache` directory](#setup-exe-cache-directorysetup-exe-cache). This
+contains:
+
+* the two source files (`setup-<hash>.hs` and `setup-shim-<hash>.hs`) that Stack
+  uses to build the executable; and
+* associated GHC build artefacts (`*.hi` and `*.o` files).
+
+If the contents of the directory are deleted, and Stack needs the executable,
+Stack will recreate them.
+
+### `snapshots` directory
+
+This contains a directory for each snapshot that Stack creates when building
+immutable dependencies of projects.
+
+If the contents of the directory are deleted, and the snapshot is not available
+to Stack when it builds, Stack will recreate the snapshot.
+
+### `templates` directory
+
+This contains a `.hsfile` for each project template that Stack has used. For
+further information, see the [`stack templates`](templates_command.md) command
+documentation.
+
+If the contents of the directory are deleted, an Stack needs a project template,
+Stack will seek to download the template.
+
+### `upload` directory
+
+This may contain saved credentials for uploading packages to Hackage
+(`credentials.json`).