A flat file is a type of data structure that stores data in a plain text format, such as CSV, TSV, or TXT. A flat file consists of one or more records, each containing one or more fields, separated by a delimiter, such as a comma, tab, or space. A flat file does not have any hierarchical or relational structure, and does not support any complex queries or operations1.
A flat file may be the best data structure for the analyst to use in this scenario, because:
* The analyst collects ten data points from 1,000 specimens, which means the data is relatively small and simple, and can be easily stored and processed in a flat file.
* The analyst will not need any additional data to complete the analysis, which means the data is static and does not require any updates or modifications.
* The analyst will not need to retrieve information by specifier, which means the data does not require any indexing or searching by key or value.