Definition

Noun: * A file containing data that is provided to a computer program or device for processing. It serves as the source of information that a program will operate on.

Usage

The term "input file" is used to specify the file from which a program reads its data. It is a core concept in computing and data processing.

Examples

• Noun:
  • The script requires an input file containing a list of email addresses.
  • Before running the analysis, you must specify the correct input file path.
  • The program crashed because the input file was corrupted.

Advanced Usage

• "to use/specify/read from an input file": Common verbs describing the action of employing an input file.
  • The application will read from an input file you provide.
• "input file format": Refers to the structure and encoding of the data within the input file (e.g., CSV, JSON, plain text).
  • Make sure your data matches the required input file format.

Variants and Related Words

• Input (noun): The data or signals entered into a system. An "input file" is a type of input.
  • The program's input can come from a keyboard, a sensor, or a file.
• Output file (noun): The file produced by a program after processing the input data. This is the direct counterpart to an input file.
  • After processing, the results are saved to an output file.

Synonyms

• Source file: A file from which data is extracted or read.
• Data file: A file containing data, which could serve as an input file.

Related Phrases

• Command-line argument for an input file: The method of specifying an input file when launching a program from a command terminal.
  • You can pass the input file as a command-line argument.
• Input file handle/descriptor: A programming reference or identifier used to access and read an input file.
  • The code opens an input file handle to begin reading data.

Noun

1. (computer science) a computer file that contains data that serve as input to a device or program