File Systems

• File systems describe how data is formatted in an external storage.
• Formatting a drive erases everything on it.
• FAT32 is the most compatible file system.
• FAT32 is an older windows file system.
• FAT32 disadvantages include partitions being limited to 32GB, files being limited to 4GB, and lack of security features.
• NTFS is the modern and default windows file system.
• NTFS supports disk quotas, which restrict the amount of disk space a user can occupy.
• NTFS supports file compression and encryption, with encryption methods like file and folder permission.
• NTFS is only compatible with Windows.
• MacOS can only read and access but not write to the partition on an NTFS drive.
• exFAT is the main file system option for external drives.
• exFAT supports files bigger than 4GB.
• exFAT has no security features.
• HFS+ (Hierarchical File System Plus) is the macOS File System.
• APFS (Apple File System) is the macOS File System.
• Ext3 is a Linux File System.
• Ext4 is a Linux File System.
• Linux can read and write to NTFS, FAT32, exFAT, and HFS+.
• CDFS is an Optical Disc File System.
• UDF is an Optical Disc File System.