Why is it called flat file?

Question

A flat-file database is a database stored in a file called a flat file. Records follow a uniform format, and there are no structures for indexing or recognizing relationships between records. The file is simple. A flat file can be a plain text file (e.g. csv, txt or tsv), or a binary file.

Why is a flat file called a flat file?

A flat file database is a collection of records in which the data follows a uniform format and follows rules on value types where applicable. The database is flat because every line only holds one data input, depending on the categorization of the columns.

What is the meaning of flat files?

A data file that is not related to or does not contain any linkages to another file. It is generally used for stand-alone lists. When files must be related (customers to orders, vendors to purchases, etc.), a relational database manager is used, not a flat file manager.

What is difference between CSV and flat file?

The difference between a flat file and a CSV file is that a CSV file uses a delimiter to separate data fields (in most instances this is a comma, although enclosing characters can be used, such as double quotes) and delimited files only use a delimiter to structure data.

What type of file is a flat file?

Flat files are the universal mechanism for moving data from one database or system to another. There are two common types of flat files: CSV (comma separated values) and delimited files. Both are file formats that represent relational data in a text file.

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