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Data descriptor
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<p>In <a href="/facts/Computing/Kghtm9fX">computing</a>, a data descriptor is a structure containing information that describes data. </p><p>Data descriptors may be used in <a href="/facts/Compiler/WNfCDFJe">compilers</a>, as a software structure at run time in languages like <a href="/facts/Ada_/Y2yHel4l">Ada</a> or <a href="/facts/PL%2fI/469mVYgd">PL/I</a>, or as a hardware structure in some computers such as <a href="/facts/Burroughs_large_systems/FwY7EqrB">Burroughs large systems</a> with their <a href="/facts/Burroughs_large_systems_descriptors/aSobs023">descriptors</a>. </p><p>Data descriptors are typically used at run-time to pass argument information to called <a href="/facts/Subroutines/9vFJrg0A">subroutines</a>. <a href="/facts/OpenVMS/rAnHAgpD">OpenVMS</a> and <a href="/facts/Multics/y7A5peyu">Multics</a> have system-wide language-independent standards for argument descriptors. Descriptors are also used to hold information about data that is only fully known at run-time, such as a <a href="/facts/Dynamic_memory_allocation/vthLkUpz">dynamically allocated array</a>. </p>