Direct access

1. Sometimes known as machine access or random access, direct access is a term used to describe the ability of a computer to locate and retrieve data immediately from a storage device without having to start at the beginning and read all information until the requested data is found.
   
   For example, a hard disk drive is capable of directly accessing data. However, a tape drive must access all information before the requested data is retrieved, which is referred to as linear access.
   
   
2. When referring to a type of telephone call, please see local bypass.

Also see: Hard disk drive definitions, Random-access file, Sequential access