The following sections of this BookRags Literature Study Guide is offprint from Gale's For Students Series: Presenting Analysis, Context, and Criticism on Commonly Studied Works: Introduction, Author Biography, Plot Summary, Characters, Themes, Style, Historical Context, Critical Overview, Criticism and Critical Essays, Media Adaptations, Topics for Further Study, Compare & Contrast, What Do I Read Next?, For Further Study, and Sources.
(c)1998-2002; (c)2002 by Gale. Gale is an imprint of The Gale Group, Inc., a division of Thomson Learning, Inc. Gale and Design and Thomson Learning are trademarks used herein under license.
The following sections, if they exist, are offprint from Beacham's Encyclopedia of Popular Fiction: "Social Concerns", "Thematic Overview", "Techniques", "Literary Precedents", "Key Questions", "Related Titles", "Adaptations", "Related Web Sites". (c)1994-2005, by Walton Beacham.
The following sections, if they exist, are offprint from Beacham's Guide to Literature for Young Adults: "About the Author", "Overview", "Setting", "Literary Qualities", "Social Sensitivity", "Topics for Discussion", "Ideas for Reports and Papers". (c)1994-2005, by Walton Beacham.
All other sections in this Literature Study Guide are owned and copyrighted by BookRags, Inc.
The term stream has two meanings in the context of computing and computer science, both of which refer to the flow of data.
First, in programming, stream refers to an order flow of programming entry and execution. It is an ordered set of records or elements in which information is added to the end of sequence of data and execution of data occurs at the beginning. Streams can be used to produce an ordered access to data.
In the programming language known as C, data can be read to a stream without knowledge concerning the destination of the information. A library routine that is part of the program acts to receive the information and then to route the information onward.
The second meaning of stream relates to electronic communication. Here, stream refers to any flow of data from a source, such as the sender, through an established electronic connection to a single destination. As its name implies, a stream of data is usually sent in a continuous and connected way. This contrasts to the transfer of data via so-called packets, where portions of the data can be addressed and routed to their destination separate from other portions.