flat file
A single file containing {flat
ASCII} representing or encoding some structure, e.g. of a
{database}, tree, or network. Flat files can be processed
with general purpose tools (e.g. {awk} or {Perl}) and {text
editors} but are often less efficient than some kind of
{binary file} if they must be {parsed} repeatedly by a
program. Flat files are more portable between different
{operating systems} and {application programs} than binary
files, and are more easily transmitted in {electronic mail}.
See also {flatten}, {sharchive}.
[{Jargon File}]
(1996-01-26)