Dateipointer

Dateipointer is a term used in computing to denote a reference or handle to a file or to a location within a file. In general, it describes the means by which a program identifies and accesses a file resource, either as an open file reference or as a position within a file. The concept helps separate the notion of locating a file from performing I/O operations on it.

In practice, Dateipointer implementations vary by platform and API. On POSIX-like systems, an open file is identified by a file descriptor, typically an integer that the kernel uses to track the file state. In Windows environments, a similar role is played by a file handle or a system handle. In the C standard library, a FILE* object represents a stream tied to a file and acts as a high-level Dateipointer. Some APIs expose a path string to locate a file before opening it, while others return or pass opaque handles that abstract away the underlying path.

Dateipointers are used to perform file I/O, pass references between software components, and manage resources. They require careful lifecycle management to avoid leaks, dangling references, or invalid handles. Operations such as open, read, write, seek, and close are typically associated with Dateipointers, though the exact semantics depend on the underlying API.

Security and portability considerations are important when exposing Dateipointers across modules or systems. Platform-specific semantics, ownership, and access rights must be clarified to ensure correct and safe use, especially in multi-process or networked environments.

See also: File descriptor, File handle, FILE*, Path, File I/O, Resource management.