Microsoft Windows 2000 API SuperBible

Chapter 17. I/O WITH FILES

The traditional concept of a file is a block of data on a storage device identified by a filename. In the Win32 API, files can be named pipes, communications resources, disk devices, console input or output, or the traditional file. Each of the different file types is the same at the base level, but each has different properties and limitations. The Win32 API file functions enable applications to access files regardless of the underlying file system or device type. However, capabilities vary, depending on the file system, device, or the operating system.