File Systems Demystified: Ext4, NTFS, APFS
File Systems Demystified: Ext4, NTFS, APFS File systems shape how data is stored, recovered, and accessed. Ext4, NTFS, and APFS are widely used, each with strengths for different environments. This guide keeps things simple and practical. Ext4 is a reliable Linux workhorse. It supports large files and volumes, fast performance with extents, and straightforward recovery thanks to journaling. It is robust on hard drives and SSDs alike. Highlights: Journaling helps recover after crashes. Extents reduce fragmentation and improve speed. Open and mature with broad Linux support. NTFS is Windows’ default system with strong permissions. It uses a detailed metadata store and a transaction log to protect data. It also supports ACLs, compression, encryption, and features like hard links. Practical notes: ...