VFAT stands for Virtual File Allocation Table, which is a file system used by Microsoft Windows operating systems to organize and manage files on mass storage devices. It was introduced with Windows 95 (OSR2) and is the successor of the original FAT file system.
VFAT is an extension of the File Allocation Table (FAT) file system and provides support for long file names, which is a significant improvement over the 8.3 format used by the original FAT system. With VFAT, file names can be up to 255 characters in length, including spaces and special characters.
The Virtual File Allocation Table uses a hierarchical directory structure to arrange files and directories on storage devices such as hard drives, USB drives, and floppy disks. It keeps track of the location and status of each file, enabling the operating system to locate and retrieve data quickly and efficiently.
VFAT also maintains a directory entry for each file, which contains essential information such as the file name, size, creation and modification dates, and file attributes. This allows users to easily navigate through directories and access the required files.
Overall, VFAT significantly improves the user experience by providing a more advanced and flexible file system compared to the original FAT. Its support for long file names and efficient file management capabilities have made it a widely used and standard file system in Microsoft Windows operating systems.
