Text-based Data Format

A Text-based Data Format is a data format that encodes information using human-readable characters from character encoding standards to enable text processing, human interpretation, and platform-independent data exchange.

• AKA: Text Format, Plain Text Format, Human-Readable Format, ASCII-Based Format, Character-Based Format.
• Context:
  • It can typically be viewed and edited using standard text editors without requiring specialized software tools.
  • It can typically utilize character encoding standards such as ASCII, UTF-8, UTF-16, or other Unicode implementations.
  • It can typically support cross-platform compatibility without byte ordering concerns or architecture-specific representations.
  • It can often include self-describing elements, comments, and metadata for documentation purposes.
  • It can often be processed using regular expressions, text parsers, and string manipulation algorithms.
  • It can often facilitate version control through line-based diff capabilities.
  • It can require more storage space than equivalent binary formats due to character representation overhead.
  • It can be compressed effectively using standard compression algorithms due to textual redundancy.
  • It can be transmitted safely across various network protocols and communication channels.
  • It can be vulnerable to injection attacks requiring careful input validation in security-sensitive contexts.
  • It can range from being a Simple Text-based Data Format to being a Complex Text-based Data Format, depending on its structural complexity.
  • It can range from being an Unstructured Text-based Data Format to being a Highly Structured Text-based Data Format, depending on its schema definition.
  • It can integrate with text processing tools, scripting languages, and command-line utilities.
  • ...
• Example(s):
  • Markup Language Formats, such as:
    • XML (Extensible Markup Language), using tag-based structure.
    • HTML (HyperText Markup Language), for web documents.
    • LaTeX, for document typesetting.
    • Markdown, for lightweight formatting.
    • WikiText, for wiki content.
  • Data Interchange Formats, such as:
    • JSON (JavaScript Object Notation), for structured data exchange.
    • YAML (YAML Ain't Markup Language), emphasizing human readability.
    • TOML (Tom's Obvious Minimal Language), for configuration files.
    • XML, for platform-independent data exchange.
  • Delimiter-Separated Formats, such as:
    • CSV (Comma-Separated Values), for tabular data.
    • TSV (Tab-Separated Values), using tab delimiters.
    • Pipe-Delimited Format, for database exports.
  • Configuration File Formats, such as:
    • INI File Format, for application settings.
    • Properties File Format, for Java configuration.
    • .env File Format, for environment variables.
  • Source Code Formats, such as:
    • Python Source Code, JavaScript Code, Java Source Files.
    • SQL Scripts, Shell Scripts, PowerShell Scripts.
  • Specialized Domain Formats, such as:
    • FASTA Format, for biological sequence data.
    • PDB Format, for protein structure data.
    • SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics), for vector graphics.
    • RSS/Atom Feed Format, for web syndication.
  • ...
• Counter-Example(s):
  • Binary Executable File, containing machine code in binary format.
  • Image File Formats like JPEG, PNG, using binary compression.
  • Audio File Formats like MP3, WAV, storing binary audio data.
  • Video File Formats like MP4, AVI, containing binary multimedia streams.
  • Database Files like SQLite, using binary storage structures.
  • Compressed Archives like ZIP, RAR, containing binary compressed data.
  • Compiled Object Files, containing binary object code.
  • Protocol Buffers, using binary serialization.
• See: Data Format, Character Encoding, Plain Text, Human-Readable Format, Binary Data Format, Markup Language, Data Serialization, Text Processing, Unicode, ASCII, UTF-8, Text Editor, Parser, Regular Expression, Newline-Delimited Text-Based Data Format.

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