File terminology: a file organized in a uniform, predefined format—commonly contrasted with free-form documents—is formally referred to as a _____ (also called a database file).

Introduction / Context:
Information systems differentiate between free-form content (for example, word processing documents) and structured data stored in uniform, machine-parseable layouts (for example, CSV, fixed-width records, database tables). The question asks for the formal term used for files that follow a consistent structure suitable for automated processing.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The file uses a uniform schema for every record.
• It is often treated as or integrated with a database table.
• The term should distinguish it from unstructured documents.

Concept / Approach:
A structured data file has a predefined arrangement of fields and records, enabling reliable parsing, validation, indexing, and querying. Examples include CSV files with a fixed header, JSON lines with consistent keys, or fixed-length record files. Such files are often imported directly into database systems and are therefore colloquially called “database files.” The word “document” does not imply uniform record structure, and “record” is a subunit inside the file, not the file itself. “Database” is the broader container of many files/tables rather than the description of the file’s uniformity.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:
Data integration tools and ETL pipelines explicitly classify inputs as structured files versus semi-structured or unstructured sources; structured files are directly mappable to relational tables.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

Common Pitfalls:
Treating semi-structured formats (like ad hoc spreadsheets) as fully structured; inconsistent headers or field orders undermine automated processing.

Final Answer:
Structured data file