You can get the information, but you can't change it. For example, the contents of a ROM chip.

storage: A file or a disk is read-only when you can look at and print its contents, but cannot save changes to it. Often you may think you can, because the file lets you select and edit text, but you won't be allowed to Save. Locking a disk or file will make it read-only. CD-ROMs are read-only. Certain parts of the Mac's inner workings are read-only, such as the ROM chip.

Describes a file or other collection of information that may only be read; it may not be updated in any way or deleted. Certain important OS files are designated as read-only files to prevent users from deleting them by accident. Also,certain types of memory (ROM), and certain devices such as CD-ROM can be read but not changed.

used as an adjective, referring to a file or a disk on which files are stored. A read-only file can be accessed but not altered and a read-only disk cannot be saved or written to.

A file setting enabling you to open and read a file, but not modify and then resave it.

An attribute that can be assigned to a file or directory. When switched on, the read-only attribute allows you to read from the file but not to write any changes to it.

Capable of being retrieved (read) but not changed (written). A read-only file or document can be displayed or printed but not altered in any way; read-only memory (ROM) holds programs that cannot be changed; a read-only storage medium, such as CD-ROM, can be played back but cannot be used for recording information.

Data and/or files you can view but cannot edit or delete. A file can have read-only status if: It resides on a physically write-protected diskette. It is located on a network in a directory and the system administrator has assigned read-only rights to you.

A read-only file is one that you are prohibited from editing or deleting. A file can have read-only status if: Its read-only attribute is enabled It resides on a physically write-protected diskette or on a diskette in a write-protected drive It is located on a network in a directory to which the system administrator has assigned read-only rights to you

A file that has read permission, but not write or execute permission, for one or more classes of users. Those users can see the file's contents, but they cannot save changes to it.

A read-only file has been set so that it cannot be altered or deleted. Also called write-protected. You can make a file read-only in Windows by right-clicking on it and checking the "read-only" box under attributes. Floppy disks can be write-protected by moving a small plastic square in the top left corner. Files on CD ROM are always read-only because you can't change the contents of a CD ROM.

A type of medium from which you can read data but to which you cannot write data.

This variable can be used to monitor information only. For example, the locIPUnreach variable, whose access is read-only, indicates whether Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP) packets concerning an unreachable address will be sent. Read-write This variable can be used to monitor information and to set a new value for the variable. For example, the tsMsgSend variable, whose access is read-write, determines what action to take after a message has been sent. The possible integer values for this variable follow: 1 = nothing 2 = reload 3 = message done 4 = abort

A setting that allows a file to be read or copied, but not changed or saved.

A read-only file is one which has the read-only attribute set, thereby disallowing the operating system to overwrite or delete it.

a mode in which a file, disk or chip can be read from but not written to, such as a ROM or CD-ROM. Setting a file to "Read-Only" will reduce access conflicts. You can set a file's read-only attribute using "Get Info" (Command-I) on the Macintohs and checking the "Lock" option. You can set a file's read-only attribute under Windows using the "Attribute" option in the File Manager (Windows 3.1) or File Explorer (Windows 95). Contrast read/write.

Attribute that can be assigned to a disk file or a disk drive. When assigned to a file, the Read-Only attribute allows you to read from that file but not write to it. When assigned to a drive, the Read-Only attribute allows you to read any file on the disk, but prevents you from adding a new file, erasing or changing a file, renaming a file, or writing on the disk. The STAT command can set a file or a drive to Read-Only. Every file and drive is either Read-Only or Read-Write.

A permission level granting access to view but not change information See also: excluded, read/write

recorded computer data that is recorded and cannot be changed. Operating systems contain many read-only files.

refers to RF tags that cannot be changed unless the microchip is reprogrammed. Read-only tags are less expensive than read-write tags.