File system

File systems refer to the organizational storage management on a data carrier. They are usually an integral part of the host operating system. The creation, storage, processing, modification and deletion of files are recurring actions within data processing. The file system is responsible for comparing the file names and the internal file addresses in a way that is understandable for the user, for finding and saving files, and for taking the device-specific properties of the hard disk into account with the classification system and access system.

At the logical level (user level), the data and directory structures (folder structure) with file names and corresponding attributes (file size, creation date, storage path, processing date, access rights, file format etc.). The management of the data of the physical level (raw data level) on the data carrier itself is carried out within the sectors. The file system creates a table of contents in the operating system-specific boot sector / boot block (e.g. MBR; usually block 0) and notes in it all assignment entries that link the logical level with the physical level of the data carrier; it can also be used to start the system. The partition table, which stores the organization of the individual partitions, usually follows on data carriers with several partitions. However, the partition table and boot block are not part of the respective file system.