Location transparency

In computer networks location transparency describes names used to identify network resources independent of both the user's location and the resource location.

A distributed system will need to employ a networked scheme for naming resources.

In other words it is an idea that the resources can be accessed by a user from anywhere on the network without knowing where the resource is located. A file could be on the user's own PC, or thousands of miles away on other servers.

Software using network transparency

These well-known software, or types of software, can or do use network transparency:

• Distributed file systems such as the Andrew File System.
• MythTV back-ends stream, and otherwise interact, with front-ends transparently to the user.
• GNOME virtual filesystem.
• KDE KIO.

Network protocols providing location transparency

• It is a standard feature of TIPC to address Port Names regardless of the network Node they were opened on.

See also

Transparency (computing)