Karl Jones: Created page with "In computing, a '''data descriptor''' is a structure containing information that describes data. == Description == Data descriptors may be used in [..."

2016-08-26T15:25:36Z

Created page with "In computing, a '''data descriptor''' is a structure containing information that describes data. == Description == Data descriptors may be used in [..."

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In [[computing]], a '''data descriptor''' is a structure containing information that describes [[Data (computing)|data]].

== Description ==

Data descriptors may be used in [[Compiler|compilers]], as a software structure at run time in languages like Ada\ or PL/I, or as a hardware structure in some computers such as Burroughs large systems.

Data descriptors are typically used at run-time to pass argument information to called [[Subroutine|subroutines]].

HP OpenVMS and Multics have system-wide language-independent standards for argument descriptors.

Descriptors are also used to hold information about data that is only fully known at run-time, such as a dynamically allocated array.

Unlike a [[dope vector]], a data descriptor does not contain address information.

== See also ==

* [[Data (computing)]]
* [[Subroutine]]

== External links ==

* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Data_descriptor Data descriptor] @ Wikipedia

[[Category:Computer science]]
[[Category:Computing]]

Data descriptor - Revision history

Karl Jones: Created page with "In computing, a '''data descriptor''' is a structure containing information that describes data. == Description == Data descriptors may be used in [..."