file allocation table
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Noun:
- A data structure on a storage device: A file allocation table is a specific area, typically on a disk, that contains a map or index. This map records the location of every piece of data (file) stored on the device and also tracks which areas of the storage are free or damaged.
Usage
- The file allocation table is a critical system for organizing data. It allows the operating system to find, read, and write files without needing to search the entire disk each time.
- When a disk is formatted, a file allocation table is created.
- Corruption of the file allocation table can lead to data loss, as the system can no longer locate files properly.
Examples
Advanced Usage
- "FAT" as an acronym: "File Allocation Table" is almost universally abbreviated to FAT, especially when referring to specific versions like FAT12, FAT16, and FAT32. These denote the size (in bits) of each entry in the table.
- FAT32 is a common file allocation table format for USB flash drives.
Variants and Related Words
- FAT (acronym): The standard abbreviation for File Allocation Table.
- File System: A broader term for the method and structure (which includes the file allocation table) for storing and organizing files.
- Cluster: The unit of disk space allocation that is tracked by entries in the file allocation table.
Synonyms
- File index
- Allocation map
- File table
Related Concepts (Not Phrasal Verbs or Idioms)
- Disk formatting: The process that creates a file allocation table on a storage device.
- Data fragmentation: A state where parts of a file are scattered across the disk, which the file allocation table must track.
- Bad sector: A damaged area on a disk that the file allocation table marks as unusable.
Noun
- the part of a floppy disk or hard disk where information is stored about the location of each piece of information on the disk (and about the location of unusable areas of the disk)