flow control
(1) In communications, the process of adjusting the flow of data from one device to another to ensure that the receiving device can handle all of the incoming data. This is particularly important where the sending device is capable of sending data much faster than the receiving device can receive it.
There are many flow control mechanisms. One of the most common flow control protocols for asynchronous communication is called xon-xoff. In this case, the receiving device sends a an xoff message to the sending device when its buffer is full. The sending device then stops sending data. When the receiving device is ready to receive more data, it sends an xon signal.
Flow control can be implemented in hardware or software, or a combination of both.
(2) In programming, the statements and other constructs that control the order in which operations are executed. For example, common looping statements such as for��next and while are known as flow control statements. Branching statements, such as if��then are also part of a programming language’s flow control mechanism.
Read Also:
- fluid aspect-oriented programming
Fluid aspect-oriented programming, or fluid AOP, involves the ability to temporarily shift a program (or other software model) to a different structure to do some piece of work with it, and then shift it back.*[Source: The Fun Has Just Begun (PDF)]
- flush
(adj) Aligned along a margin. For example, text that is flush left is aligned along the left margin. Flush-right text is aligned along the right margin. The opposite of flush is ragged. Text that is both flush left and flush right is said to be justified. (v) To copy data from a temporary storage area […]
- fly through
In virtual reality environments, fly through is movement of an object or model through a predefined path.
- focal length
In digital photography and digital video recording, the focal length refers to the size of the image and angle of field of view as seen by the camera through the lens. This is the center of the lens to the image pickup device.
- focal plane
(1) The focal plane represents the area in a camera where light is focused. In digital cameras and digital video recorders the CCD rests on the focal plane. (2) A focal plane shutter is a type of photographic shutter used in 35mm SLR cameras. It is positioned behind the lens and slightly in front of […]