When data are stored in a text file, each line typically includes information about a particular record. True False
The correct answer and explanation is:
Correct Answer: True
Explanation (300 words):
When data are stored in a text file, it is common for each line to represent a single record. This structure allows for a clear and organized way to store and retrieve information. A record is a collection of related data items or fields, often corresponding to one unit of meaningful data—such as an entry in a contact list, a row in a spreadsheet, or a transaction in a log.
Text files are typically stored in formats such as CSV (Comma-Separated Values), TSV (Tab-Separated Values), or plain text, where each line corresponds to a record. For instance, in a CSV file containing student information, each line may include a student’s name, ID, age, and grade, separated by commas:
John Doe,12345,20,A
Jane Smith,67890,21,B
In this example, each line is a record, and each value (or field) is separated by a delimiter (in this case, a comma). This makes the data easy to process using scripts, programming languages, or spreadsheet software.
Text files that follow this convention are not only human-readable but also easy to parse by computers. Programming languages like Python, Java, and C++ can read these lines sequentially and extract data for further processing.
However, not all text files are structured this way. Some may include narrative content, configuration settings, or logs that don’t follow a line-per-record format. But in the context of structured data storage, such as data exchange or databases, the practice of using one line per record is standard.
In summary, the statement is true: When structured data is stored in a text file, each line typically contains one complete record. This format ensures that data can be easily understood, manipulated, and processed both manually and programmatically.