What is the primary organizing feature of a sequential access file structure?

The primary organizing feature of a sequential access file structure is that data is arranged in a numerical or sequential order. This means that records are stored one after another, following a specific sequence that can be based on a key attribute, such as an identifier or a date. This structure allows for efficient processing when accessing data in the order it was written or when performing batch processing tasks.

In sequential access, the system reads records in the order they appear in the file. For instance, if records are stored based on an identification number, the data can easily be retrieved or processed from the lowest to the highest identifier. This organization is particularly useful for tasks that often require reading through the data sequentially, such as generating reports or analyzing logs.

The other organizational methods, such as random order processing, alphabetical order, or time-based order, do not define the sequential file structure's fundamental characteristic. Random access allows for non-linear retrieval of data, while alphabetical or time-based orders imply different sorting criteria that do not utilize the inherent sequential nature of the file structure.