What is a file system file descriptor?

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What is a file system file descriptor?

A file system file descriptor is a unique identifier or reference number that is assigned to an open file by the operating system. It is used by the operating system to keep track of the file and manage its access and operations. The file descriptor contains information about the file, such as its location, size, permissions, and current position within the file. It is typically represented as a non-negative integer and is used by programs to perform various file operations, such as reading, writing, or closing the file. The file descriptor serves as a communication channel between the program and the operating system, allowing the program to interact with the file system and manipulate files.