The file system is divided into several core blocks or components, each of which serves a specific purpose in managing and storing the data efficiently. The files system's main blocks are shown here:
Boot Block: The first file system block with the bootstrap code or boot loader that must be installed in order to start your computer.
Superblock: A crucial data structure that offers crucial metadata about the file system, such as its type, size, status, list of free and used blocks, and more, including information on each block's status. For mounting and using the file system, it is essential.
Block INODE: Each file or directory is represented by an inode (index node), which also contains metadata about the corresponding file, including permissions, timestamps, file size, and pointers to the data blocks. Inode blocks are collections of inodes. Blocks of data are the actual blocks that hold file data, including directory entries pointing to other files or subdirectories as well as file contents.
FAT: File Allocation Table: a list that links the names of files to the corresponding inodes or data blocks. File systems like FAT and exFAT frequently use it.
FDT: File Descriptor Table: a table with entries from the inode table that serve as file descriptors. It assists in managing open files and the data that goes with them.
No-cost block list: a list that manages the file system's free or available blocks, allowing for the effective allocation of blocks for new files and directories.