The master file table (MFT) keeps track of all file, directory, and metafile data within the NTFS file system. Superseding its predecessors - file allocation table (FAT) and high-performance file system (HPFS) - the NTFS file system features several improvements, including sparse file support, disk usage quotas, hard links, and file-level encryption.īefore we go over each enhancement in detail, let’s understand the inner workings of the NTFS file system. The new technology file system (NTFS) is Microsoft’s proprietary file system first introduced with Windows NT 3.1 in 1993. In addition, a file system maintains memory, encrypts data, regulates access to files, and ensures data integrity.
Also stored on a file system are the file name, the file size, the position of the file in the folder hierarchy, date of creation, the most recent access, the most recent change to a file's metadata, and the last time it was backed up.Ī file system does more than just keep records, though.
