serial-access

serial-access

[′sir·ē·əl ′ak‚ses] (computer science) Pertaining to memory devices having structures such that data storage sites become accessible for read/write in time-sequential order; circulating memories and magnetic tapes are examples of serial-access memories. Pertaining to a particular process or program that accesses data items sequentially, without regard to the capability of the memory hardware. Pertaining to character-by-character transmission from an on-line real-time keyboard.