Objects in a data stream

A data stream is a byte-by-byte flow of data. Objects in a data stream include both data objects and syntax objects. Syntax objects indicate where a data object begins or ends. They include separators, initiators, terminators, delimiters, release characters, and pad characters. Sometimes, data values are used to identify where another data object begins or ends.

It might be necessary to distinguish between data objects in a component series, data objects of different types, or even syntax objects.