The FAT is used to describe the allocation status of the clusters (the basic units of logical storage on a hard drive) in a file system, as well as the link relationship between each. However, it does offer more compatibility with other operating systems and removable storage devices. It is the older of the two file systems and therefore isn’t as efficient or advanced. Microsoft created the File Allocation Table file system in 1977 and is the simplest file system supported by Windows NT. In this article, we will break down what a FAT file system is, what an NTFS file system is and what the pros and cons are for each system.
While both file systems were created by Microsoft, each has different benefits and disadvantages related to compatibility, security, and flexibility. Windows-supported operating systems rely on one of two different types of file systems: File Allocation Table (FAT) or New Technology File System (NTFS).
