A file system is nothing but set of rules that direct the storing and fetching of data in storage unit. Lets’ explore the difference between FAT32, exFAT and NTFS file system architecture.
Story of File System
Everyone is familiar with the Windows OS and its user-friendly interface. It still is one of the favorite operating systems for a huge number of computer users. While working on Windows, we always come across the file systems it uses. The internal drive is formatted with the NTFS file system and external memory is formatted with FAT32 or exFAT file system. Let us know more about the difference between FAT, exFAT, and NTFS file systems.
Windows OS is one of the most interactive and user-friendly operating systems in the world. And it is always on track to introduce innovation and technology. The file systems are also a part of such innovation to meet the data handling better. So in order to enhance the user experience, Microsoft created a central file system called the FAT file system. The modern-day FAT32 is a predecessor of the old FAT files system.
Difference Between FAT32, exFAT, and NTFS File Systems
The earliest file system was introduced back in the late 70s with the name FAT or File Allocation Table. This Microsoft-developed system provides order to all the files that are stored in a device. The other architectures like FAT16 and FAT32 are a development of this original FAT 8-bit system.
The new NTFS file system was developed to meet the necessity of modern computing. Apart from being advanced file system architecture, it has the ability to manage the computing of the present world. That’s why all the new operating systems with Windows and some others use this as a default file system in modern computers.
The NTFS File System
The NTFS file system was introduced by Microsoft in the early 90s with its new Windows NT. The development of this file system started a decade before it came into existence. However, when it did, it was one of the most acclaimed technologies of the time. The New Technology File System (NTFS) offers a vast file size limit. More than an average computer user needs.
With the development of this technology, a handful of upgrades have been introduced and added. The additions include NTFS symbolic links, partition shrinking, and self-healing. There were perceptions about the NTFS file system that it can offer a file size of 16EB-1KB. Now the practical limit of NTFS is termed 256TB-1KB.
The NTFS file system is advanced system architecture. It keeps a journal of all the files stored and tracks the potential modifications in the file system. Let's have a look at some of the parameters of this file system.
FAT32 File System
The history of the computer has a significant place for the FAT file system. It is the oldest file system in the world. The File Allocation Table (FAT) file system was developed with 8 bits and advanced to FAT12, FAT16, and FAT32. The most modern form of the FAT system architecture is FAT32. It has a 32-bit file allocation table. This will allow users to come over the limitations of the FAT16 file system.
The FAT32 file system could not meet the requirements of modern computer systems, but it is perfect for storage devices like flash drives, pen drives, etc. It can offer a file size of up to 4 GB. Due to its moderate architectural structure, the FAT32 is implemented beyond the disc in computers. It is accepted by gaming consoles, DVD players, HDTVs, and other devices with a USB port. In case you lost data from the FAT32 file system you can refer to this article to find out how to recover files from FAT32.
exFAT File System
The exFAT is an extended version of the FAT file system. It actually is termed an Extended FAT file system. This is useful in areas where the conventional FAT system does not work. It excels in many ways, one of which would be the file size limit. You can have a file of more than 4GB with an exFAT file system architecture. This is one of the prime factors for its implementation in modern-day memory cards. Most of the high-speed SDXC cards are formatted with this architecture.
Same as the NTFS system, it has a file size limit of 16EB estimated at the time of its release in 2016. But this also has the advantage of being light and more efficient with its limited features as compared to NTFS. This file system is supported by Mac, Windows, and Android. There is various software for other operating systems like Linux that help to run exFAT.
As the partition systems have a huge space, it is under threat of corruption or deletion. If the such file system is exposed to operating systems that do not support them, it can be a problem. Although there are various methods to regain the files in your partition. In such cases, you can find a tool to restore exFAT partition, NTFS partition, or FAT 32 partition.
In conclusion, we can say that the above-listed features of the three file system architectures are a basis for differentiating between the three. Although, the unifying factor is their use. All three have their implementation on different platforms.
