File Systems Explained
By: Sal Cangeloso
A file system is something which computer users hear about all the time, but many do not know very much about. This article is going to be a short guide, which goes over the basics of file systems so you will at least know enough to get by. This is a subject which can get as complicated as you want to make it, but a little knowledge can go a long way.
At the most basic level, a file system is the method by which a set of filed are stored and catalogued. Different devices and operating systems use different file systems, depending on certain factors, most of which are environmental. Every implementation of a file system needs a few things, including organization, the ability to manipulate files, accessible data, and a so forth. Of course, a file system has to be used on some sort of storage device, like a hard disk or USB flash drive.
To store data a file system will usually do through a series of blocks, also known as sectors. These vary in size but are often 512 bytes large. The most common storage convention is to store data in a series of files which are placed in hierarchical directories. Files can be retrieved using some sort of index or file allocation table although metadata, simple information about a certain file, can be used to do this or even in place of a table.
Certain file systems use file extensions to futher organize file names, but this is not something which has to be done. What is important is that any specific file can be created, deleted, retrieved, and modified when the computer or user commands- the file system is simply set of conventions which guides this process.