file

file system An element of data storage in a file system.

The history of computing is rich in varied kinds of files and

file systems, whether ornate (e.g., Macintosh file system

for a well-known case) or deficient (e.g., many simple

pre-1980s file systems don't allow directories).

However, the prototypical file has these characteristics:

* It is a single sequence of bytes (but consider Macintosh

resource forks).

* It has a finite length, unlike, e.g. a Unix device.

* It is stored in a non-volatile storage medium (but see

ramdrive).

* It exists (nominally) in a directory.

* It has a name that it can be referred to by in file

operations, possibly in combination with its path.

Additionally, a file system may associate other information

with a file, such as permission bits or other fileattributes; timestamps for file creation, last revision, and

last access; revision numbers (a` la VMS), and other kinds of

magic.

(1997-04-08)