Ability to retrieve, in any sequence, visual and taped elements regardless of original placement order.

Describes the ability of a storage device to go directly to the required memory address without having to read from the beginning every time data is requested. There is nothing random or haphazar ... more

The ability to move to a video point instantly, without having to shuttle.

Random Access Memory

A storage device that allows information or blocks of information to be read in any order; e.g., a disk.

Also called "dynamic access" this indicates that data can be selected without having to skip over earlier data first. This is the way that a CD, record, laserdisc, or DVD will behave -- it is easy to selectively play a particular track without having to fast forward through earlier tracks. The other common behavior is called sequential access.

An access method when the data can be stored and accessed in any order, and all storage locations are equally accessible.

the ability to retrieve records in a file without reading previous records.

The ability to locate a record in a file through relative seeks (see also sequential access and keyed access). Once the desired record is located, you can use sequential access to read subsequent records.

Ability to access any particular block by going directly to it. Disk devices are random access devices.

Unscheduled access to communications medium in which stations transmit when ready (possibly after sensing medium), and later resolve any conflicts that arise.

A system can access data within particular time, regardless of the location of the data. This is one of the characteristics of disk type of recording media. As far as MO disk is concerned, the access time is around second.

The ability to select any one of several items in any order; e.g., random access microfiche projector.

The facility to retrieve data (rapidly and accurately) from any part of a recording.

An access method in which records can be read from, written to, or removed from a file in any order.

The ability to access data in a non-linear way. This uses some sort of addressing to locate data rather then knowing the data's linear order. All random access information has to be broken up into fixed sizes for that reason.

The process of retrieving data from a storage medium in a direct, rather than sequential, manner. The term "direct access" is preferred.

Direct slide access, i.e., from slide 10 to slide 20. There is no slide by slide selection but, for example, direct access to slide 20. Kodak.

This means that an algorithm can access any element xi of a sequence immediately (by just specifying i). It doesn't have to go through x1,...,xi-1 first. Note that this has nothing directly to do with randomness.

adj. Pertaining to a computer's process of reading data from and writing data to storage in a nonsequential manner.

Same as Direct Access. How data is read from or written to disk.

A manner of storing records in a computer file so that an individual record may be accessed without reading other records.

The ability to get to data stored anywhere on and in non-serial or random fashion.

Reading locations directly without having to read in a particular sequence.

The ability to access any piece of information from a storage medium, such as a disk or RAM. The idea here is that random access gives you the ability to access any information without having to read everything the comes before it.

The ability to read out chosen lines or windows of information from an imager as needed, without following the RS-170 standards.

each location within memory can be directly accessed without the need to sequence through prior locations. Direct access is probably more appropriate, as this access method is not really random.

Able to read any location directly; without having to read sequentially to the location.

Access mode in which records are obtained from or placed into a mass storage file in a nonsequential manner so that any record can be rapidly accessed.

An access mode where records are placed in non-sequential order in mass storage so they can be accessed rapidly. This is the same as "DirectAccess".

The process of selecting information in a arbitrary order, not based on the physical order or sequence of its storage.

Direct access to records, regardless of their physical location on the storage medium. (Contrast with sequential access.)

In computer science, random access is the ability to access an arbitrary element of a group in equal time. The opposite is sequential access, where a remote element takes longer time to access. A typical illustration of this distinction is the ancient scroll (sequential) and the book where any random page can be flipped open immediately.