random access

noun
1.
the capacity of a videodisc or compact disc player that allows the user to select and replay any portion without starting at the beginning.
2.
availability, as of a service or facility, whenever needed or desired:
an executive's need for random access to legal experts.
Origin
1950-55

random-access

[ran-duh m-ak-ses] /ˈræn dəmˈæk sɛs/
adjective, Computers.
1.
direct-access.
Examples from the web for random access
  • Tape drives do not afford efficient, random access to the data.
  • In short, magnetic core memory was the first random access memory that was practical, reliable and relatively high-speed.
  • It's the visual voice mail, co-developed with their mobile-phone partner, that allows random access to voice mail.
  • random access reads and writes from system to system.
  • Provide efficient, general data access capabilities and random access within large structures.
  • Operation is maintained contact with time-out function on your controller, but random access in terms of position selection.
British Dictionary definitions for random access

random access

noun
1.
another name for direct access
Contemporary definitions for random access
noun

See direct access