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dbm.
GNU dbm (gdbm)is a library of database functions that use
extendible hashing and works similar to the standard UNIX dbm
functions. These routines are provided to a programmer needing to
create and manipulate a hashed database. (gdbm is NOT a
complete database package for an end user.)
The basic use of gdbm is to store key/data pairs in a data file.
Each key must be unique and each key is paired with only one data item.
The keys can not be directly accessed in sorted order. The basic unit
of data in gdbm is the structure:
typedef struct {
char *dptr;
int dsize;
} datum;
This structure allows for arbitrary sized keys and data items.
The key/data pairs are stored in a gdbm disk file, called a
gdbm database. An application must open a gdbm database
to be able manipulate the keys and data contained in the database.
gdbm allows an application to have multiple databases open at the
same time. When an application opens a gdbm database, it is
designated as a reader or a writer. A gdbm
database opened by at most one writer at a time. However, many readers
may open the database open simultaneously. Readers and writers can not
open the gdbm database at the same time.
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