The game object in the asset folder is called a “prefab”. Once you put a prefab into the scene, it creates an instance of the prefab. When you do this on runtime (when the game is playing), it also calls them “<name> (clone)”. As Djaydino says, they aren’t the same thing. The prefab is a “blueprint” of sorts.
Normally, you only drag drop scene game objects into scripts (or actions), (a) when the game objects are child of the FSM/holder or (b) when the game object is a manager or other “default” game object, i.e. things you know are always in the scene, when called. You use prefabs in actions typically to create instances, spawn enemies, bullets, etc.