Understanding Linux system calls for file operations
In this section, we will look at the terminology and basic mechanisms associated with managing file system resources at the operating system level. We will use Linux/Unix as an example, but similar concepts apply to other operating systems.
So, what do you think a file is?
A file is just a set of bytes. A byte represents a unit of information—it can be a number, text, video, audio, image, or any other such digital content. The bytes are organized in a linear array called a byte stream. There is no other expectation in terms of the structure or contents of a file, as far as the operating system is concerned. It is the user application that does the interpretation of the file and its contents.
A user application is a program that is not a part of the operating system kernel. An example of a user application is an image viewer that interprets the bytes of data as an image. Since files are resources that are managed by...