What is the meaning of flat files?

Question

A flat file is a collection of data stored in a two-dimensional database in which similar yet discrete strings of information are stored as records in a table. The columns of the table represent one dimension of the database, while each row is a separate record.

What does a flat file do?

Flat file databases store plain text records and binary files that are needed for a specific purpose in a single directory for easy access and transfer.

What is flat file example?

Examples of flat files include /etc/passwd and /etc/group on Unix-like operating systems. Another example of a flat file is a name-and-address list with the fields Name, Address, and Phone Number. A list of names, addresses, and phone numbers written by hand on a sheet of paper is a flat-file database.

What is a flat file called?

A flat file, also known as a text database, is a type of database that stores data in a plain text format. Flat file databases were developed and implemented in the early 1970s by IBM. Flat files typically text files that have all word processing and structure markup removed.

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