Operating Systems
File System
Definition
A file system is a process that manages how and where data on a storage disk is stored, accessed, and managed. It provides a way to organize data into a hierarchy of files and directories.
Why It Matters
Without a file system, a storage disk would just be a massive, unorganized block of data. The file system provides the structure that allows the OS and applications to find, read, and write data in an organized manner.
Contextual Example
When you create a folder named "Documents" and save a file called "report.docx" inside it, the file system is what keeps track of where the data for "report.docx" is physically located on the disk and that it belongs inside the "Documents" directory.
Common Misunderstandings
- Different operating systems use different file systems. For example, Windows uses NTFS, macOS uses APFS, and Linux commonly uses ext4.
- A "journaling" file system (like NTFS or ext4) keeps a log of changes, which helps prevent data corruption in the event of a power failure or crash.