Ng system> AN iNteger, striNg or other small data value which refers to oNe of several objects allocated to a program by the operatiNg system, usually the kerNel. A commoN example is a UNixfile descriptor which is a small iNteger that ideNtifies aN I/O chaNNel. ANother example is a refereNce to aN area of memory (e.g. shared memory). Compare capability. (1998-02-06)