FAT32, NTFS, exFAT, and EXT4 are different file systems used for data storage on various devices. Here is a quick overview of each one:
FAT32
FAT32 (File Allocation Table 32) is an older file system that has been around since Windows 95. It is compatible with all versions of Windows but has limitations:
- Max file size of 4GB
- Max volume size of 2TB
- No built-in file compression or encryption
FAT32 is best for removable media like USB flash drives and SD cards, where compatibility across devices is important.
NTFS
NTFS (New Technology File System) is the default file system for Windows NT, 2000, XP, Vista, 7, 8, 10. It has several advantages over FAT32:
- Supports file sizes over 4GB
- Allows volumes over 2TB
- Includes file compression, encryption, permissions
- Better performance than FAT32
NTFS is ideal for internal hard drives on Windows machines. It is not typically used for removable media.
exFAT
exFAT was introduced in 2006 and optimized for flash memory like USB drives and SD cards. Advantages include:
- Supports file sizes over 4GB
- No realistic file size or volume size limits
- Faster than FAT32 for large volumes
- Compatible across Windows and macOS
exFAT lacks NTFS features like file compression and encryption. It’s a good cross-platform file system for external storage use.
EXT4
EXT4 is the default file system for most Linux distributions. It succeeded EXT3 adding improvements like:
- Support for huge volumes and large files
- Faster file system checks and fragmentation
- Journal checksumming for data integrity
EXT4 is ideal as the system partition file system on Linux distributions. It is not used for external storage devices.
Summary
- FAT32 – Simple, compatible file system for removable drives
- NTFS – Modern file system for Windows internal drives
- exFAT – Compatible file system for large external storage
- EXT4 – Modern Linux file system for system partitions
So in summary, FAT32 is the most compatible but has limits, NTFS is best for Windows system drives, exFAT works cross-platform for large external drives, and EXT4 is used for Linux installs.
FAT32
Here is more detail on FAT32:
Overview
FAT32 (File Allocation Table 32) is an older file system developed for Windows 95 to replace the previous FAT16 file system. Its main advantages are widespread compatibility across devices and operating systems, and simplicity compared to more modern file systems.
Technical Details
- Maximum file size of 4GB.
- Maximum volume size of 2TB.
- Uses 32-bit allocation table for storing file location data.
- Default cluster size is 4KB.
- Supports up to 2048 clusters per volume.
Advantages
- Compatible with all versions of Windows.
- Also compatible with macOS, Linux, game consoles.
- Simple and mature implementation.
Disadvantages
- 4GB maximum file size.
- 2TB maximum volume size.
- No built-in compression or encryption.
- Lower performance than NTFS.
Uses
FAT32 is most commonly used for removable media like USB flash drives, SD cards, etc where compatibility across many devices and operating systems is required. It is not ideal for internal hard drives or large external hard drives due to file size and volume size limitations.
NTFS
Here is more detail on NTFS:
Overview
NTFS (New Technology File System) is the primary file system for recent Windows NT operating systems like Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8, and 10. It was designed to overcome limitations of FAT32 and provide better performance and features.
Technical Details
- Maximum theoretical file size of 16 EiB (exbibytes).
- Maximum theoretical volume size of 1 YiB (yebibytes).
- Uses 64-bit allocation table and pages for file location data.
- Default cluster size ranges from 4KB to 128KB.
- Number of clusters up to 2^64.
- Includes journaling, compression, encryption, permissions.
Advantages
- Supports massive volumes over 2TB.
- Large files sizes over 4GB.
- Compression, encryption, permissions.
- Higher performance than FAT32.
Disadvantages
- Limited compatibility with other operating systems.
- More complex implementation.
Uses
NTFS is ideal as the system partition file system on Windows machines due to its advanced features and good performance. It is not typically used for external removable media since it has limited compatibility outside of Windows.
exFAT
Here is more detail on exFAT:
Overview
exFAT is an optimized file system introduced in 2006 for use on flash memory like SSD drives and SD cards. It is supported on recent versions of Windows and macOS.
Technical Details
- Maximum theoretical file size of 16 EiB.
- Maximum theoretical volume size of 128 PiB.
- Default cluster size around 4KB.
- Uses 64-bit allocation table and bitmap for file location data.
Advantages
- Supports massive file sizes and volumes.
- Faster than FAT32 on large drives.
- Supported on Windows and macOS.
Disadvantages
- Lacks NTFS advanced features like compression.
- Less compatible than FAT32.
Uses
exFAT is ideal for external storage devices that will be used across both Windows and macOS. It is too limited for system drives, but works well on large USB drives and SD cards.
EXT4
Here is more detail on EXT4:
Overview
EXT4 is the latest generation file system for the Linux kernel and the default system partition file system in most Linux distributions. It replaced EXT3 adding improvements.
Technical Details
- Maximum theoretical file size of 16 TiB.
- Maximum theoretical volume size of 1 EiB.
- Default cluster size ranges from 4KB to 128KB.
- Number of clusters up to 2^32.
- Includes journal checksumming and barriers.
Advantages
- Efficient handling of large files and volumes.
- Faster file system checks and defragmentation.
- Data integrity through journal checksumming.
Disadvantages
- Limited compatibility outside Linux.
Uses
EXT4 is designed for use as the system partition file system on Linux distributions. It offers the best performance and most features for system drives. It is not used for removable media.
Conclusion
To summarize, FAT32 is the most compatible file system that works across all devices, but has limitations. NTFS is ideal for internal Windows hard drives. exFAT is a good modern system for external drives to work across Windows and macOS. EXT4 is specifically designed for Linux system partitions. The right file system depends on your specific requirements and device uses.