Describe the process of file creation and deletion in a file system.

The process of file creation and deletion in a file system involves several steps.

File Creation:
1. Request: The user or an application initiates the file creation process by sending a request to the operating system.
2. File Metadata: The operating system allocates a unique file identifier and creates an entry in the file system's directory structure. This entry contains metadata such as the file name, size, location, permissions, and timestamps.
3. Space Allocation: The operating system determines the amount of space required for the file and allocates it on the storage device. This can be done using various allocation methods like contiguous, linked, or indexed allocation.
4. File Content: The user or application can then start writing data into the allocated space. The operating system keeps track of the file's current size and updates the metadata accordingly.
5. File Completion: Once the file creation is complete, the operating system updates the directory entry and marks the file as available for use.

File Deletion:
1. Request: The user or an application initiates the file deletion process by sending a request to the operating system.
2. Metadata Update: The operating system locates the file's directory entry and marks it as deleted. However, the actual file content remains intact on the storage device until it is overwritten.
3. Space Reclamation: Depending on the file system, the operating system may immediately reclaim the space occupied by the file or mark it as available for reuse in the future.
4. File System Updates: The operating system updates any relevant data structures, such as the free space bitmap or file allocation table, to reflect the freed space.
5. File Recovery: In some file systems, deleted files can be recovered until they are overwritten. However, once the file is overwritten or the storage device undergoes a process like formatting, the file becomes irrecoverable.

It is important to note that the exact process of file creation and deletion may vary depending on the file system used and the operating system's implementation.