17
Streams and files
A file is an ordered sequence of bytes explicitly having a start and an end, characterized by storage. A stream is characterized by realtime data transfer of unbounded duration on a unidirectional channel – that is, with no upstream channel for flow control, acknowledgement, or retransmission request. Table 17.1 provides a general summary of the characteristics of files and streams.
Table 17.1. Files and streams are compared.
| A file … | A stream … |
| … has predefined beginning and end | … has indeterminate beginning and end |
| … usually involves storage media | … usually involves an external data interconnect |
| … permits “random access” to data | … involves sequential data access, typically starting midstream |
| … has structure imposed ... |
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