Descriptor

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The term was coined by Calvin Mooers in 1948.

1. A descriptor is an index term used to identify a record in a database. It can consist of a word, phrase, or alphanumerical term. It can describe the content of the record or be an arbitrary code. When a descriptor is descriptive, it can be an effective search parameter.

2. A descriptor in Symbian OS is a text string. There is a library of descriptor classes incorporating all the usual string manipulation methods. Descriptors come in two main types, 8 bit and 16 bit. An 8 bit descriptor stores ASCII text or binary data, a 16 bit descriptor stores Unicode text.

3. Descriptor is also being used in an MRP program called DBA Next Generation. In this program a descriptor is a bill of material item that is a non-stock item like labor.

4. In the Python programming language a descriptor is "an object attribute with 'binding behavior', one whose attribute access has been overridden by methods in the descriptor protocol." ^[1] For example a descriptor can be used to prevent setting the radius attribute of an object representing a circle to a negative value or to log all access or changes to a specific attribute.

5. In operating systems, a file descriptor is an abstract key for accessing a file.