Common filesystem features
This is the glossary of the common filesystem features table.
The intention of this table is to provide an at-a-glance list of features and specifications for each filesystem.
Inventor[edit]
List the names of those credited with the design of the filesystem specification. This should not include those responsible for writing the implementation.
Name[edit]
The full, non abbreviated, name of the filesystem itself.
Native operating system[edit]
The name of the operating system in which this filesystem debuted.
Partition identificator[edit]
The partitioning scheme and marker used to identify that a partition is formatted to this filesystem.
Bad sector allocation[edit]
Describe how the filesystem allocates and isolates bad sectors.
File allocation[edit]
Describes how the filesystem allocates sectors in-use by files.
Directory structure[edit]
Describes how the subdirectories are implemented.
Namespace[edit]
Lists the characters that are legal within file and directory names.
Maximum filename size[edit]
The maximum number of characters that a file or directory name may contain.
Maximum files[edit]
The maximum number of files the filesystem can handle.
Maximum volume size[edit]
The maximum size of a volume that the filesystem specification can handle. This may differ from the maximum size an operating system supports using a given implementation of the filesystem.
Dates handled[edit]
What type of dates and times the filesystem can support, which may include:
Creation date[edit]
This is the date the file was “created” on the volume. This does not change when working normally with a file, e.g. opening, closing, saving, or modifying the file.
Access date[edit]
This is the date the file was last accessed. An access can be a move, an open, or any other simple access. It can also be tripped by Anti-virus scanners, or Windows system processes. Therefore, caution has to be used when stating a “file was last accessed by user XXX” if there is only the “File Access” date in NTFS to work from.
Modified date[edit]
This date as shown by Windows there has been a change to the file itself. E.g. if a notepad document has more data added to it, this would trip the date it was modified.
Changed date[edit]
The date and time related attributes were modified. This may include ACLs and the file/directory name.
Backed-up date[edit]
The date and time when the file was last backed up.
Maximum date[edit]
The maximum year that can be handled by the filesystem, as per the specification.
Attributes[edit]
Lists the basic file attributes available.
Named streams[edit]
Determines if the filesystems supports multiple data streams. NTFS refers to these as alternate data streams, HPFS as extended attributes and HFS calls them forks.
Per-volume compression[edit]
Does the filesystem support real-time transparent compression and decompression of an entire volume.
Per-volume encryption[edit]
Does the filesystem support real-time transparent encryption and decryption of an entire volume.
Per-file compression[edit]
Does the filesystem support real-time transparent compression and decompression of individual files.
Per-file encryption[edit]
Does the filesystem support real-time transparent encryption and decryption of individual files.
Access control lists[edit]
Does the filesystem support multi-user access control lists (ACLs).