Computers, Computer Science A search in which a set of data is scanned in a sequential search. Involves beginning with the first record in a list and examining each subsequent record until the record being sought is found.

Computers, Computer Science A requirement of the file that accessing a record requires scanning through all the intermediate records from the starting position. Sequential access is an inherent feature of a medium such as magnetic tape or cassette tape, where the medium must be reviewed in a fixed order.