Which type of data file access allows access to any piece of data in the file without reading the data that comes before it? Direct access Input access None of these Sequential access Output access

The type of data file access that allows access to any piece of data in the file without reading the data that comes before it is called **Direct access**. Here's a brief explanation of the options: - **Direct access**: This allows the program to read or write data at any location in the file without having to read through the preceding data. This is often used in databases and certain file systems. - **Sequential access**: This requires reading data in a specific order, starting from the beginning of the file and proceeding to the end. You cannot jump to a specific piece of data without reading the preceding data. - **Input access**: This generally refers to reading data from a file, but it does not specify the method of access (sequential or direct). - **Output access**: This typically refers to writing data to a file, and like input access, it does not specify the method of access. - **None of these**: This option is incorrect since direct access is a valid method. Therefore, the correct answer is **Direct access**.