14.1 Introduction
A file system defines how a computer’s data is stored on and retrieved from a mass storage device. Without a file system, the information on a mass storage device would be an accumulation of unorganized and non-retrievable data. The files in a file system are typically arranged into a set of hierarchically organized directories (a.k.a., folders) and subdirectories (a.k.a., subfolders). Among other things, a file system permits a computer’s operating system to
Maintain its system of directories and subdirectories
Create, copy, move, store, retrieve, ...
