= File Allocation Table
{c}
{title2=FAT}
{wiki}
The <File Allocation Table> filesystem family tracks file storage through a table indexed by allocation cluster. A file's directory entry points to its first cluster; table entries link later clusters or mark the end of its chain. Following that chain reconstructs a fragmented file. This simple organization differs from an extent tree that describes long contiguous runs at once. FAT variants differ in entry widths and other layout rules. File length and cluster-chain traversal must agree with the on-disk metadata; the file's bytes do not necessarily occupy one contiguous interval.
// Target: computer-science.bigb
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