Serial access

In telecommunication, the term serial access has the following meanings:

1. Pertaining to the sequential or consecutive transmission of data into or out of a device, such as a computer, transmission line, or storage device.

2. A process by which data is obtained from a storage device or entered into a storage device in such a way that the process depends on the location of that data and on a reference to data previously accessed. Synonym: sequential access.

Source: from Federal Standard 1037C and from MIL-STD-188