File System Management
Overview
A file system is a method and data structure that an operating system uses to control how data is stored and retrieved. Without a file system, data stored in a storage medium would be one large body of data with no way to tell where one piece of data stops and the next begins. By separating the data into individual pieces, and giving each piece a name, the data is easily isolated and identified. Taking its name from the way paper-based data management system is named, each group of data is called a "file". The structure and logic rules used to manage the groups of data and their names is called a "file system".
Types of File Systems
There are many different types of file systems. Each one has different structure and logic, properties of speed, flexibility, security, size and more. Some file systems have been designed to be used for specific applications. For example, the ISO 9660 file system is designed specifically for optical disc media.
Disk File Systems
A disk file system takes advantages of the ability of disk storage media, such as hard drives and floppy disks, to randomly address data in a short amount of time. Additional considerations include the expected latency time and the speed with which data transfers. Examples of disk file systems include FAT, NTFS, and ext4.
Flash File Systems
A flash file system considers the special abilities, performance and restrictions of flash memory devices. Frequently a disk file system can use a flash memory device in the same way that it uses a disk. However, optimal operation can be achieved by using a file system specifically designed for a flash device. Examples include JFFS and YAFFS.
Tape File Systems
A tape file system is a file system and tape format designed to store files on tape in a self-describing form. Magnetic tapes are sequential storage media with significantly longer random data access times than disks, posing challenges to the creation and efficient management of a general-purpose file system. In a tape file system, files are often quite large, possibly encompassing several volumes of tape. Examples include LTFS.
File System Management
File system management involves a series of processes, including the creation of a file system through a process called formatting, the creation of directories, and the management of files within those directories.
Formatting
Formatting a disk involves the creation of a file system on a disk. This process prepares the disk to store files by dividing it into tracks and sectors. The operating system can then store files in these sectors. The formatting process also creates a root directory where the files and directories are stored.
Directories
A directory is a location for storing files on your computer. Directories are found in a hierarchical file system, such as Linux, MS-DOS, OS/2, and Unix.
File Management
File management involves the provision of a way to create, move and delete files. A file manager is a computer program that provides a user interface to manage files and directories. The most common operations performed on files or groups of files are: create, open, edit, view, print, play, rename, move, copy, delete, search/find, and modify attributes, properties and permissions.
File System Implementation
File system implementation refers to the algorithms and data structures that a file system uses to keep track of files on a disk or partition; that is, the way the files are organized on the disk. The word is also used to refer to a partition or disk that is used to store the files or the type of the file system. Thus, one might say that a disk is formatted with the NTFS file system, or that the file system is the NTFS file system.
File System API
A File System API (Application Programming Interface) is a set of routines, protocols, and tools for building software and applications. A good API makes it easier to develop a program by providing all the building blocks, which are then put together by the programmer. An API may be for a web-based system, operating system, database system, computer hardware, or software library.
See Also
