What is the role of a file descriptor in operating systems?
a) It is a reference to an open file used by the operating system to access files
b) It is a method for encoding file paths
c) It is a technique for managing file system permissions
d) It is a type of file compression algorithm
Answer:
a) It is a reference to an open file used by the operating system to access files
Explanation:
A file descriptor is a reference or identifier assigned by the operating system when a file is opened by a process. This descriptor is used by the operating system to keep track of all open files, allowing processes to read, write, and manipulate files efficiently.
File descriptors are typically integers and are used in system calls like read(), write(), and close() to access files. They provide an abstraction for managing files in a way that doesn’t require the process to directly handle the file location or storage medium.
File descriptors are crucial in multi-process systems, as they allow the operating system to manage many open files simultaneously while ensuring data integrity and preventing conflicts.