End Of File (EOF)
Related question
How can you securely delete files?Techopedia explains End Of File (EOF)
Along with another tag Beginning Of File or BOF, End Of File delineates the boundary of some data set that is being operated on by a computer. For example, a loop or iterative program that is going along analyzing text at the end of a text file can recognize an EOF tag and stop performing operations when the end of the file is reached.The BOF and EOF markers represent some very simple syntax that was used for even the most primitive computing systems in the early days of programming. These types of tags and markers promote the idea of looking at code as a straightforward translation from machine language to a linear, accessible programming language.
As mentioned above, one of the problems that EOF helps to solve involves open-ended read/write or read operations. A linear program without an EOF marker may try to read past what’s in the file, returning one of a number of errors. To prevent this, a code loop can check for EOF with each iteration, to make sure that the execution ends at the end of the file, regardless of its length.
Survey: Why Is There Still a Gender Gap in Tech?
Do you work in the tech industry? Help us learn more about why the gender gap still exists in tech by taking this quick survey! Survey respondents will also be entered to win a $100 Amazon Gift Card!
Related Reading
- Computer Programming: From Machine Language to Artificial Intelligence
- Slow Dancing With Technology: Debugging, the Programmer and the Machine
- The Pioneers of Computer Programming
- Data Breach Notification: The Legal and Regulatory Environment
- Artificial Intelligence in Cybersecurity
- The Differences Between the Top 3 Cryptocurrencies