Storage

/ˈjuː aɪ diː/

noun — "universally unique identifier for storage or objects."

UUID, short for Universally Unique Identifier, is a standardized 128-bit identifier used in computing to uniquely identify objects, filesystems, devices, or records without requiring a central registration authority. UUIDs are designed to be unique across both space and time, ensuring that identifiers generated independently will not collide.

/ɛks tiː fɔːr/

noun — "modern journaling Linux filesystem."

EXT4, short for Fourth Extended File System, is a Linux filesystem that advances the design of EXT3 by adding features for higher performance, larger volume and file support, and improved reliability. It maintains backward compatibility with EXT3 while introducing extents, delayed allocation, multiblock allocation, and larger timestamps, enhancing efficiency and reducing fragmentation.

/ɛks tiː θriː/

noun — "journaling Linux filesystem."

EXT3, short for Third Extended File System, is a Linux filesystem that builds upon the structure of EXT2 by adding journaling capabilities to improve reliability and reduce recovery time after system crashes. It maintains backward compatibility with EXT2, allowing existing tools, utilities, and data to work seamlessly, while providing enhanced integrity for both metadata and optionally data.

/ɛks tiː tuː/

noun — "second generation Linux filesystem."

EXT2, short for Second Extended File System, is a filesystem designed for Linux that introduced improvements over the original EXT filesystem, including larger volume support, optimized metadata management, and more efficient file storage structures. It does not include journaling, unlike its successors EXT3 and EXT4, but its simplicity offers high performance for certain use cases, particularly on systems where crash recovery is handled externally.

/ɛks tɛnˈdɪd/

noun — "Linux filesystem family."

EXT, short for Extended File System, is a series of filesystems primarily used in Linux operating systems. It was designed to improve upon the limitations of early UNIX-like filesystems by introducing features like larger volume support, journaling, and metadata optimization. The family includes EXT2, EXT3, and EXT4, each progressively adding capabilities while maintaining backward compatibility.

/ˌɛf iː ˈkeɪ/

noun — "file encryption key."

FEK, short for File Encryption Key, is a symmetric cryptographic key used to encrypt and decrypt the contents of a single file within systems like EFS. Each file protected by a filesystem-level encryption mechanism typically has its own unique FEK to ensure isolation and minimize the risk of large-scale data compromise if one key is exposed.

/ˌiː ɛf ˈɛs/

noun — "encrypted file storage system."

EFS, short for Encrypting File System, is a filesystem-level encryption technology that allows individual files or directories to be transparently encrypted on storage volumes. It integrates directly with the operating system’s file management layer, providing confidentiality for sensitive data while maintaining standard access semantics for authorized users.

/ˌfæt ˈtwɛlv/

noun — "early File Allocation Table filesystem."

FAT12, short for File Allocation Table 12, is the original variant of the FAT filesystem family, using 12-bit cluster addressing to manage storage on floppy disks and small-volume drives. It organizes data into clusters and tracks their allocation in a linear table, providing a simple yet effective method for file storage and retrieval.

/ˌfæt/

noun — "file allocation table filesystem family."

FAT, short for File Allocation Table, is a family of disk filesystems designed to organize, store, and retrieve files on block-based storage devices using a table-driven allocation scheme. Variants include FAT12, FAT16, and FAT32, each defined by the number of bits used to address clusters. FAT abstracts physical storage layout into logical cluster sequences, enabling operating systems and firmware to manage files without hardware-specific knowledge.

/ˌfæt ˈsɪksˌtiːn/

noun — "legacy File Allocation Table filesystem."

FAT16, short for File Allocation Table 16, is a legacy filesystem that organizes data on block-based storage devices using a 16-bit cluster addressing scheme. It was widely used in early personal computers and embedded devices due to its simplicity, low overhead, and compatibility across operating systems and firmware environments.