What is a flat file?

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Multiple Choice

What is a flat file?

A flat file is a simple data file that stores records in a plain, unstructured form where there are no defined relationships between the records. Typically, each line represents one record, and fields within that line are separated by delimiters like commas or tabs (think CSV or TSV) or are in a fixed width. There’s no built-in mechanism to link one record to another or to enforce relational structure, which is why flat files contrast with relational databases that organize data into related tables. The other options describe different concepts: a compressed archive bundles multiple files into one container and reduces size; a binary executable is a program file meant to run on a computer; a relational database stores data across interrelated tables with defined relationships.

A flat file is a simple data file that stores records in a plain, unstructured form where there are no defined relationships between the records. Typically, each line represents one record, and fields within that line are separated by delimiters like commas or tabs (think CSV or TSV) or are in a fixed width. There’s no built-in mechanism to link one record to another or to enforce relational structure, which is why flat files contrast with relational databases that organize data into related tables.

The other options describe different concepts: a compressed archive bundles multiple files into one container and reduces size; a binary executable is a program file meant to run on a computer; a relational database stores data across interrelated tables with defined relationships.

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