Skrárkerfa

Skrárkerfa, often translated as file system, is a method and data structure that an operating system uses to control how data is stored and retrieved. It is the way files are named, stored, and organized on a storage device such as a hard disk drive, solid-state drive, or optical disc. Without a file system, data placed on storage media would be one large body of data with no way to tell where one piece of information ends and the next begins.

File systems manage files and directories. Directories are containers for files, and can also contain other directories, creating a hierarchical structure. Each file typically has a name, an owner, permissions, a size, and a timestamp indicating when it was created or last modified. The file system tracks the physical location of each file's data on the storage device, often using an index or table.

Different types of file systems exist, each with its own characteristics and suitability for different purposes. Examples include FAT (File Allocation Table), NTFS (New Technology File System), HFS+ (Hierarchical File System Plus), ext4, and APFS (Apple File System). These file systems differ in their support for file sizes, directory sizes, file naming conventions, security features, and performance optimizations. The choice of file system can impact data integrity, performance, and compatibility. When a storage device is formatted, a file system is created on it, preparing it for use by the operating system.