green bytes
(Or "green words") Meta-information embedded in a file, such
as the length of the file or its name; as opposed to keeping
such information in a separate description file or record.
The term comes from an {IBM} user's group meeting (ca. 1962)
at which these two approaches were being debated and the
diagram of the file on the blackboard had the "green bytes"
drawn in green.
By extension, the non-data bits in any self-describing format.
"A GIF file contains, among other things, green bytes
describing the packing method for the image".
Compare {out-of-band}, {zigamorph}, {fence}.
[{Jargon File}]
(1994-11-02)