F
field
1. The basic unit of information in a record.
2. In awk, one element of an input record.
See also record
field separator
One or more characters used to separate fields in a record.
file descriptor
A small unsigned integer that a UNIX system uses to identify a file. A file
descriptor is created by a process through issuing an open system call for the file
name. A file descriptor ceases to exist when it is no longer held by any process.
file mark
A sequence of characters written on a magnetic tape to signify the end of a data
file.
See also BOM, EOF (end of file)
file name expansion
See globbing
file pointer
An identifier that indicates a structure containing the file name.
file system
The collection of files and file management structures on a physical or logical
mass storage device.
filter
1. A command that reads standard input data, modifies the data, and sends it to
standard output.
2. A device or program that separates data, signals, or materials in accordance
with specific criteria.
flag
See option
foreground job
See foreground process
foreground process
A job that must be completed or interrupted before the shell will accept more
commands; a job receiving input from a workstation or terminal.
See also background process
fork
1. The command used to create and start a child process.
2. The result of using the fork command.
See also parent process
full pathname
See absolute pathname
full-screen editor
An editor that displays an entire screen at a time. Also called a visual editor.
See also line editor
