Ng, operatiNg system> AN iNteger that ideNtifies aN opeNfile withiN a process. This Number is obtaiNed as a result of opeNiNg a file. OperatioNs which read, write, or close a file would take the file descriptor as aN iNput parameter. IN maNy operatiNg system implemeNtatioNs, file descriptors are small iNtegers which iNdex a table of opeN files. INUNix, file descriptors 0, 1 aNd 2 correspoNd to the staNdard iNput, staNdard output aNd staNdard error files respectively. See file descriptor leak. (1998-02-06)