File Allocation Table 32
/ˌfæt θɜːrtiˈtuː/
noun — "widely compatible file allocation table filesystem."
FAT32, short for File Allocation Table 32, is a disk filesystem designed to organize, store, and retrieve files on block-based storage devices using a table-driven allocation model. It represents an evolution of earlier FAT variants and is defined by its use of 32-bit cluster addressing, allowing larger volumes and files than its predecessors while maintaining broad hardware and software compatibility.
Logical Block Address
/ˈlɒdʒɪkəl blɒk ˈædrɛs/
noun — "linear addressing scheme for storage blocks."
Disk Partitioning
/dɪsk ˈpɑːr tɪʃənɪŋ/
noun — "dividing a storage device into independent sections."
Disk Partitioning is the process of dividing a physical storage device, such as a hard drive or solid-state drive, into separate, logically independent sections called partitions. Each partition behaves as an individual volume, allowing different filesystems, operating systems, or storage purposes to coexist on the same physical disk. Partitioning is a critical step in preparing storage for operating system installation, multi-boot configurations, or structured data management.
Partition Table
/ˈpɑːr tɪʃən ˈteɪbəl/
noun — "map of disk partitions for storage management."
Partition Table is a data structure on a storage device that defines the organization and layout of disk partitions, specifying where each partition begins and ends, its type, and other attributes. It serves as the roadmap for the operating system and firmware to locate and access volumes, enabling multiple filesystems or operating systems to coexist on a single physical disk.
GUID Partition Table
/ɡaɪd pɑːrˈtɪʃən ˈteɪbəl/
noun — "modern disk partitioning standard with large capacity support."
Master Boot Record
/ˌɛm biː ˈɑːr/
noun — "first sector of a storage device containing boot information."
MBR, short for Master Boot Record, is the first sector of a storage device, such as a hard disk or solid-state drive, that contains essential information for bootstrapping an operating system and managing disk partitions. It occupies the first 512 bytes of the device and serves as a foundational structure for legacy BIOS-based systems, providing both executable boot code and a partition table.
Master File Table
/ˈmɑːstər faɪl ˈteɪbəl/
noun — "central table of file metadata."
Journaling
/ˈdʒɜrnəlɪŋ/
noun — "tracks changes to protect data integrity."
FileSystem
/ˈfaɪl ˌsɪstəm/
noun — "organizes storage for data access."
FileSystem is a software and data structure layer that manages how data is stored, retrieved, and organized on storage devices such as hard drives, SSDs, or networked storage. It provides a logical interface for users and applications to interact with files and directories while translating these operations into the physical layout on the storage medium. A file system determines how files are named, how metadata is maintained, how storage space is allocated, and how access permissions are enforced.
New Technology File System
/ˌɛn.tiːˈɛfˈɛs/
noun — "robust Windows file system."
NTFS, short for New Technology File System, is a proprietary file system developed by Microsoft for Windows operating systems to provide high reliability, scalability, and advanced features beyond those of FAT and FAT32. NTFS organizes data on storage devices using a structured format that supports large files, large volumes, permissions, metadata, and transactional integrity, making it suitable for modern computing environments including desktops, servers, and enterprise storage systems.