green bytes

(Or "green words") Meta-information embedded in a file, such

as the length of the file or its name; as opposed to keeping

such information in a separate description file or record.

The term comes from an IBM user's group meeting (ca. 1962)

at which these two approaches were being debated and the

diagram of the file on the blackboard had the "green bytes"

drawn in green.

By extension, the non-data bits in any self-describing format.

"A GIF file contains, among other things, green bytes

describing the packing method for the image".

Compare out-of-band, zigamorph, fence.

[Jargon File]

(1994-11-02)