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Explain the difference between sequential and direct file access.

A. Sequential access to data is used when the data has to be read from the start, in sequence. It is the normal method of access for magnetic tape. Direct access is used when it is possible to jump directly to a file or data item without reading through all the items stored before it. This is the normal method used for hard disks.

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13y ago
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14y ago

A direct file allows quick access to any data in the file; if I want the 50th payroll record I can retrieve it directly with very few I/O accesses.

A sequential file cannot be accessed randomly (as above). To get the 50th payroll record you have to read the first 49 records to get to it, which isn't very efficient or fast.

Usually in a direct file you know exactly where on the device the record is that you want to retrieve or update. That immediately makes it much faster than a sequential file.

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Q: Difference between direct sequential file and index sequential file?
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