[1]: 5 Each record in a KSDS data file is embedded with a unique key.
[1]: 20 A KSDS consists of two parts, the data component and a separate index file known as the index component which allows the system to physically locate the record in the data file by its key value.
[1]: 13 Together, the data and index components are called a cluster.
[1]: 15 Records can be accessed randomly or in sequence and can be variable-length.
As a VSAM data set, the KSDS data and index components consist of control intervals[1]: 10 which are further organized in control areas.