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File Handle
Last Updated: February 2, 2017
Definition - What does File Handle mean?
A file handle, in the context of computing, is a temporary reference number that an operating system assigns to a file requested by a user to be opened. The system calls, accesses and interacts with the file through that reference number throughout the session until the user terminates the file or the system session.
Techopedia explains File Handle
A file handle removes the trouble of remembering the name of a file that is currently opened in the system by assigning it a temporary reference number through witch it can be accessed by the operating system itself. This practice not only saves processing time, but also memory of event log happenings. It is important to understand that a file handle is only an internal reference to a file; the user still sees the file by its name. In operating systems such as DOS or Windows, the maximum number of files that can be handled simultaneously can be set by typing a FILES= statement in CONFIG.SYS.
