How does a file system organize and store data?

A file system is responsible for organizing and storing data on a storage device such as a hard disk drive or solid-state drive. It provides a structured way to store, retrieve, and manage files and directories.

To organize and store data, a file system typically uses a hierarchical structure. The top-level of this structure is the root directory, which serves as the starting point for accessing all other files and directories. From the root directory, the file system can have multiple levels of directories, forming a tree-like structure.

Each file and directory within the file system is assigned a unique name and location within the hierarchy. The file system keeps track of these names and locations using a data structure called an index or file allocation table. This index contains information about the file's location on the storage device, its size, permissions, and other metadata.

When a file is created, the file system allocates space on the storage device to store its contents. This space can be contiguous or fragmented depending on the file system's allocation strategy. The file system also maintains a record of which areas of the storage device are allocated and which are free for future use.

To access a file, the file system uses the file's unique name and location within the hierarchy. It traverses the directory structure, following the path specified by the file's name, until it reaches the desired file. Once located, the file system retrieves the file's contents from the storage device and presents it to the user or application.

In addition to organizing and storing data, a file system also provides features such as file permissions, file attributes, and file metadata. These features allow users to control access to files, assign specific properties to files, and store additional information about files, respectively.

Overall, a file system organizes and stores data by creating a hierarchical structure of directories and files, allocating space on the storage device for file contents, and maintaining an index or file allocation table to keep track of file locations and metadata.