The most common use is for opening files. In this case, SourceSink is a file name (atom or string).
Mode is one of the following
read open for reading write open for writing update open for reading and writing append open for writing at the endA file must already exist if it is to be opened in read mode. A file opened in append mode is opened in write mode at the end of the file. If an existing file is opened in write mode, it is truncated to zero size, i.e. its previous content is lost.
If Stream is a variable, it will be instantiated to a system-generated stream handle. This handle can subsequently be used to identify the stream. If Stream is an atom, then this atom will be used as a symbolic alias name for the stream (like with the alias(Name) option of open/4, or set_stream/2). The use of handles should be preferred.
If SourceSink is of the form string(InitialString), then a so-called string stream is opened. A string stream is basically an in-memory file and its initial contents is the string InitialString. A string stream can be used like any other stream, i.e. it is possible to read, write and seek like on a true file. The current contents of a string stream can at any time be retrieved as a whole using get_stream_info(Stream, name, Contents).
If SourceSink is of the form queue(InitialString), then a queue stream is opened. It behaves like a string that can be written at the end and read from the beginning. Seeking is not allowed on queues. The current contents of a queue can at any time be retrieved as a whole using get_stream_info(Stream, name, Contents). Queues are considered to be at end-of-file while they are empty. Queues can be configured to raise an event every time something is written to the previously empty queue (see open/4).
If SourceSink is of the form fd(Integer), then the stream in opened onto an existing operating system file descriptor.
?- open(file1, write, S), write(S, foo), close(S). S = $&(stream,"") yes. ?- open(file1, update, S), read(S,X), write(S,bar), close(S). X = foo S = $&(stream,"") yes. ?- open(file1, append, S), write(S, baz), close(S). S = $&(stream,"") yes. ?- open(file1, read, mystr), read(mystr,X), close(mystr). X = foobarbaz yes. ?- open(string("foo"), update, S), read(S,X), write(S,bar), get_stream_info(S, name, Contents), close(S). X = foo Contents = "foobar" yes. ?- open(queue(""), update, S), write(S, hello), read(S, X), close(S). X = hello yes. ?- event_create(writeln(my_event_handler), Event), open(queue(""), write, S, [event(Event)]), write(S, hello). my_event_handler S = $&(stream,7) yes. Error: open(Var,update,s). (Error 4). open(file1,Mode,s). (Error 4). open(2,update,s). (Error 5). open(file1,"str",s). (Error 5). open(file1,update,9). (Error 5). open(nonex,read,s). (Error 170). % no such file open(file1,atom,s). (Error 192). % no such mode