What is difference between fixed length record and variable length record?

A file where all the records are of the same length is said to have fixed length records.

Advantage : Access is fast because the computer knows where each record starts.

Eg If each record is 120 bytes long then

• the 1st record starts at [Start of File] + 0 bytes
• the 2nd record starts at [Start of File] + 120 bytes
• the 3rd record starts at [Start of File] + 240 bytes etc.....

Disadvantage : Using Fixed length records, the records are usually larger and therefore need more storage space and are slower to transfer (load or save).

One or more of the fields can be of differing lengths in each record, called variable length records

Advantages:

• the records will be smaller and will need less storage space
• the records will load faster

Disadvantages:

• The computer will be unable to determine where each record starts so processing the records will be slower.