Chapter 4. eXternal Data Representation

The eXternal Data Representation (XDR) is a standard for the description and encoding of data. XDR uses a language to describe data formats, but the language is used only for describing data and is not a programming language. Protocols such as Remote Procedure Call (RPC) and the Network File System (NFS) use XDR to describe their data formats.

This chapter discusses the following topics:

• eXternal Data Representation Overview for Programming
• XDR Subroutine Format
• XDR Library
• XDR Language Specification
• XDR Data Types
• List of XDR Programming References
• XDR Library Filter Primitives
• XDR Non-Filter Primitives
• Passing Linked Lists Using XDR Example
• Using an XDR Data Description Example
• Showing the Justification for Using XDR Example
• Using XDR Example
• Using XDR Array Examples
• Using an XDR Discriminated Union Example
• Showing the Use of Pointers in XDR Example