varyinglength
Varyinglength refers to data elements whose size is not fixed in advance. In computing, the term describes values, records, or fields that can occupy different numbers of bytes depending on their content or context. Varyinglength contrasts with fixed-length representations where every element uses the same amount of space. Length information is typically stored alongside the value, either as a separate prefix, a delimiter, or as part of a structured header.
In data interchange and serialization, many formats use varyinglength fields to efficiently encode diverse data. Examples
Data structures and algorithms are designed to handle varyinglength data. Dynamic arrays, linked lists, and rope
Challenges and trade-offs include overhead for length metadata, potential fragmentation, and parsing costs during access. Systems
Related concepts include variable-length encoding, length-prefix framing, and variable-length records.