File system

It is a mechanism and data structure used by operating systems to regulate the storage and retrieval of data. In computers, the term "file system" or "filesystem" is sometimes shortened to "fs." Without a file system, data stored on a storage media would be lumped together into a single huge body of information with no ability to distinguish between one piece of information and the next. By dividing the data into parts and assigning a name to each component, the data can be readily separated and distinguished from the rest of the data. Each set of data is referred to as a "file," which is derived from the way paper-based data management systems are referred to. A "file system" is the structure and logic rules that are used to manage the groupings of data and the names associated with them.

There are many different types of file systems to choose from. Each one has a unique structure and logic, as well as characteristics like as speed, adaptability, security, and size, among other things. Some file systems have been created specifically for use with certain applications in mind. One such file system is the ISO 9660 file system, which was created exclusively for optical discs.

On a wide variety of various sorts of storage devices that utilise a variety of different types of media, file systems may be used. As of 2019, hard disc drives have surpassed all other storage technologies in terms of capacity and are expected to continue to do so for the foreseeable future. SSDs, magnetic tapes, and optical discs are some of the other types of media that are employed in the industry. The main memory (random-access memory, RAM) of the computer is used to establish a temporary file system for short-term storage in certain instances, such as using the tmpfs file system.

Some file systems are utilised on local data storage devices, while others enable access to files using a network interface (such as FTP) (for example, NFS, SMB, or 9P clients). Some file systems are "virtual," which means that the "files" that are provided (referred to as virtual files) are either calculated on demand (such as procfs and sysfs) or are essentially a mapping into a separate file system that is used as a backup store. The file system is responsible for controlling access to both the content of files and the information associated with those files. It is in charge of organising storage space; dependability, efficiency, and tuning with respect to the physical storage medium are all significant design factors in this process.