← Back to catalogue
Published

offset

vr.tr.offset · thing-q1156822

Let an agent explain integer offsets within arrays and data structures, describe their units and interpretation from reference sources, and distinguish offsets from absolute addresses and boundary markers.

Thing Registry Cross-cutting context XCT.TME
Bundle → Layer → Finding → QuestionsClassifiersWhat it isWhy it existsDistinguishing featuresWhat robots and AI may and may not doMoral aspectsOwnersLinks to other meta-modelsIdentity and identifiersDirect propertiesRecognitionCapabilities and actionsHazards and failure modesStandards and interfacesContext of useSources

Bundle → Layer → Finding → Questions Filled

4 bundles · 8 layers · 8 findings · 16 questions

Understand What an offset is.

Definition

Definition.

Definition

Definition.

  1. What is an offset, and how does it differ from an absolute position? definition
  2. Which context is meant, computing or measurement? boundary

File

File offsets.

File

File.

  1. What are the beginning-of-file and end-of-file offsets? definition
  2. Which entry fits the specific use? action
Computing Computing.

Memory

Address offsets.

Memory

Memory.

  1. How are offsets used to address memory and files? provenance
  2. Which references are standard? provenance

Indexing

Indexing.

Indexing

Indexing.

  1. How do offsets index positions in data? provenance
  2. How is an offset measured? measurement
Measurement Measurement.

Displacement

Displacement.

Displacement

Displacement.

  1. How does offset express a displacement between values? provenance
  2. Which sources are cited? provenance

Reference

Reference point.

Reference

Reference.

  1. Why must an offset state its reference point? provenance
  2. Is the reference clear? boundary
Context Context.

Errors

Common errors.

Errors

Errors.

  1. What errors arise from misusing offsets? provenance
  2. Is the context correctly identified? boundary

Related

Related ideas.

Related

Related.

  1. How does offset relate to distance and displacement? provenance
  2. Which entry fits the related idea? action

Classifiers Filled

Family
Thing Registry
Category
Cross-cutting context
Entry kind
thing
Plane
XCT
Domain
XCT.TME
Other names and narrower kinds
end of file, numerical place, beginning of file

What it is Filled

An offset is an integer indicating the displacement from the beginning of an array or data structure to a given element or point, expressed in the units used by that structure.

Why it exists Filled

Let an agent explain integer offsets within arrays and data structures, describe their units and interpretation from reference sources, and distinguish offsets from absolute addresses and boundary markers.

Distinguishing features Filled

  • An offset is an integer displacement.
  • The reference point is the beginning of an array or data structure.
  • Its units depend on the data structure.
  • Its interpretation depends on the structure's conventions.

What robots and AI may and may not do Filled

Must not

  • Write data at an unchecked offset that can corrupt files or memory.
  • Confuse offsets with absolute positions.
  • Treat offset arithmetic as validated without testing boundary cases.
  • Use offset manipulation to access data outside the permitted range.

Only with a human decision

  • Changing offsets in shared files, firmware or databases requires human authorization.

May

  • Compute and explain integer offsets from the beginning of arrays or data structures.
  • Check offsets against bounds before reading or writing data.

Moral aspects Filled

  • Offset errors cause crashes, data loss and security holes.
  • Systems people depend on can fail silently from such errors.

Who is affected

  • Users of the system
  • Data owners
  • Developers

Owners Filled

Steward

Nobody: a concept; owners of each system answer for their data.

Links to other meta-models Filled

parent

  • Q126017 - registry parent class

related

  • distance - in registry terms
  • absolute position
  • computing
  • displacement

What else AI and robots need to interact with it Filled

Identity and identifiers required Filled

  • Vercy registry: vr.tr.offset
  • Wikidata: Q1156822 (https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1156822)

Direct properties not applicable Not applicable

  • kind: distance or displacement note
  • reference: a chosen starting point note
  • registry parent: distance note

Plane XCT: no invented physical properties.

Recognition optional Filled

  • An offset identifies a displacement from the beginning of an array or data structure.
  • An offset is represented by an integer in the structure's specified units.
  • An absolute address identifies a location directly, whereas an offset expresses displacement from the structure's beginning.
  • Not a visible object; a number expressing a distance from a reference.

Capabilities and actions required Filled

  • explain the notion
  • relay computing and measurement uses
  • distinguish file-related uses
  • steer to the right context

Hazards and failure modes required Filled

  • Mixing contexts
  • Confusing offset with absolute position
  • Off-by-one errors in file offsets

Standards and interfaces required Filled

  • Computing conventions

Context of use required Filled

  • Expressing a displacement from a reference point.
  • file offset
  • address offset
  • value offset

Sources Filled

  1. Wikidata item Q1156822: offset - identity and sense of the item
  2. Wikipedia: Offset (computer science) - general description of the item

Open questions

  • Should file offsets be a separate entry?
  • How should the reference point be specified?
  • How should the context be signposted?

Machine files

Card as JSON Specification Card backlog vercy.card/1

Provenance

thing registry research (pass 2) · unreviewed

Built from: models/things/publications/thing-q1156822/spec.json