Interrecord

Interrecord is a term used to describe something that occurs between consecutive records in a data stream, file format, or storage medium. In practice, it is often associated with the inter-record gap (IRG), a spacer region that separates adjacent records to delineate them for processing and to help with synchronization and error recovery.

In magnetic tape systems, the interrecord gap is a physical blank interval between recorded blocks. Its length is determined by the tape format and device characteristics and can influence throughput and data integrity by providing time for mechanical positioning and signal settling between records. Similar concepts exist in other sequential storage or streaming contexts, where a boundary between records helps prevent data from bleeding into the next record and aids in parsing.

In file formats and data exchange, the interrecord boundary defines where one record ends and the next begins. For fixed-length record formats, the boundary is implicit in the defined record size. For variable-length formats, a length prefix or a specific terminator sequence serves as the interrecord delimiter, enabling parsers to locate record boundaries reliably.

Interrecord usage also extends to log files, streaming data, and batch processing pipelines, where clear boundaries between records facilitate parsing, error handling, and synchronization. While the precise implementation and terminology can vary across systems, the core idea remains the same: a defined separation between records to maintain structure and data integrity.

See also: inter-record gap, record boundary, sequential storage, record-oriented data formats.