computer science

Rename (computing)

Rename (computing) is a computer science topic covered in the lgStudy science library. This page brings together a partial reference excerpt, illustrations, worked examples, real-world applications and a short study plan, so you can understand Rename (computing) rather than just read about it. In short: In computing, rename refers to the altering of a name of a file. This can be done manually by using a shell command such as ren or mv, or by using batch renaming software that can automate the renaming process.

Key takeaways

Rename (computing) belongs to computer science; place it in that map before memorising details.
Learn the definition first, then one example that makes the definition concrete.
Connect Rename (computing) to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
Reproduce the core statement of Rename (computing) from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

In computing, rename refers to the altering of a name of a file. This can be done manually by using a shell command such as ren or mv, or by using batch renaming software that can automate the renaming process.

Implementations The C standard library provides a function called rename which does this action. In POSIX, which is extended from the C standard, the rename function will fail if the old and new names are on different mounted file systems. In SQL, renames are performed by using the CHANGE specification in ALTER TABLE statements.

Atomic rename In POSIX, a successful call to rename is guaranteed to have been atomic from the point of view of the current host (i.e., another program would only see the file with the old name or the file with the new name, not both or neither of them). This aspect is often used during a file save operation to avoid any possibility of the file contents being lost if the save operation is interrupted. The rename function from the C library in Windows does not implement the POSIX atomic behaviour; instead it fails if the destination file already exists. However, other calls in the Windows API do implement the atomic behaviour.

References

Illustrations

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with Rename (computing)

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what Rename (computing) claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In computer science, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to Rename (computing) before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about Rename (computing) ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of Rename (computing)

In research: Rename (computing) appears in computer science research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry: Engineering practice reuses Rename (computing) in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom: Rename (computing) is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics Computing stubs, Computing terminology, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life: Look for Rename (computing) outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.

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How to study Rename (computing) in 20 minutes

Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
Close the page and write down what Rename (computing) means in your own words.
Compare your version with the excerpt and mark what you missed.
Work through the three examples above with pen and paper.
Explain Rename (computing) out loud to somebody else — or to Teacher Smith in the lgStudy chat.

Frequently asked questions

What is Rename (computing) in simple terms?

Why does Rename (computing) matter?

Because it connects several computer science ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study Rename (computing)?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on Rename (computing).