NTFS

NTPermissions

Sparse_file_(en)

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One_Petabyte_of_Files_(Windows_10_Professional)

NTFS

Developer(s)	Microsoft
Full name	New Technology File System
Introduced	1993
Structures
Directory contents	B-tree
File allocation	Bitmap
Limits
Max volume size	16 EB (with 4 KB clusters)
Max Template:Abbreviation of files	4,294,967,295
Max filename length	255 characters
Allowed filename characters	Unicode
Features
Dates recorded	Creation, modification, access, MFT change
Date range	1 January 1601 – 28 May 60056
Attributes	Read-only, hidden, system, archive, not indexed, compressed, encrypted, sparse, temporary, offline, reparse point, integrity stream, no scrub, pinned, unpinned
File system permissions	ACL
Transparent compression	NTFS compression
Transparent encryption	EFS

NTFS (New Technology File System) is a proprietary file system developed by Microsoft. It was introduced in 1993 with the release of Windows NT 3.1 and has since become the primary file system for Microsoft's Windows NT family of operating systems.

History

NTFS was created to address the limitations of the FAT file system and to provide advanced features such as improved support for metadata, advanced data structures, and enhanced security through access control lists (ACLs). It was designed to be a more robust and scalable file system, capable of handling large volumes and files.

Features

NTFS includes several key features that distinguish it from other file systems:

• **Metadata**: NTFS uses a Master File Table (MFT) to store information about files and directories, allowing for efficient file management and retrieval.
• **Security**: NTFS supports file-level security through ACLs, enabling administrators to set permissions for individual users and groups.
• **Compression**: NTFS includes built-in support for file compression, allowing users to save disk space by compressing files and directories.
• **Encryption**: The Encrypting File System (EFS) feature allows users to encrypt files and directories to protect sensitive data.
• **Journaling**: NTFS uses a journaling system to keep track of changes to the file system, helping to prevent data corruption and improve reliability.
• **Disk Quotas**: NTFS supports disk quotas, allowing administrators to limit the amount of disk space that users can consume.
• **Sparse Files**: NTFS supports sparse files, which allow for efficient storage of large files with empty data blocks.
• **Reparse Points**: NTFS supports reparse points, which enable advanced file system features such as symbolic links and volume mount points.

Structure

NTFS uses a hierarchical structure to organize files and directories. The MFT is the central database that contains information about every file and directory on the volume. Each entry in the MFT includes metadata such as the file name, size, timestamps, and security information.

Compatibility

NTFS is fully supported by all modern versions of the Windows operating system. However, compatibility with other operating systems is limited. Some Linux distributions and macOS can read NTFS volumes, but write support may require additional software or drivers.

See also

• FAT
• exFAT
• ReFS
• HFS Plus
• ext4
• Btrfs

Related Pages

• File system
• Windows NT
• Access control list
• Encrypting File System
• Master File Table
• Disk quota
• Sparse file
• Reparse point