On Thu, 4 Jan 2024 18:25:02 +0000
Al Viro <v...@zeniv.linux.org.uk> wrote:

> Unfortunately, the terms are clumsy as hell - POSIX ends up with
> "file descriptor" (for numbers) vs. "file description" (for IO
> channels), which is hard to distinguish when reading and just
> as hard to distinguish when listening.  "Opened file" (as IO
> channel) vs. "file on disc" (as collection of data that might
> be accessed via said channels) distinction on top of that also
> doesn't help, to put it mildly.  It's many decades too late to
> do anything about, unfortunately.  Pity the UNIX 101 students... ;-/

Just so I understand this correctly.

"file descriptor" - is just what maps to a specific inode.

"file description" - is how the file is accessed (position in the file and
                        flags associated to how it was opened)

Did I get that correct?

-- Steve

Reply via email to