Introduction
There can be a huge amount of files in our system. The operating system is responsible for managing the files. The operating system is used to manage computer files. The File Management in the operating system manages all files with various extensions.
Before we dive into file management in the operating system, let us first recap what a file is.
A file is a collection of specific information stored in a computer system's memory. There are various types of files in our computer-like text files, images, audio/video files, etc. All these files have different extensions. The file management system is responsible for the efficient storage, retrieval, and manipulation of files.
Also see: Multiprogramming vs Multitasking and Open Source Operating System
What is File Management System in Operating System?
File management is one of the fundamental and crucial components of an operating system. The operating system manages computer system files. Operating systems control all files with various extensions.
File management is formally defined as manipulating files in a computer system, which includes creating, modifying, and deleting files. Therefore, one of the simple but crucial features offered by the operating system is file management. The operating system's file management function entails software that handles or maintains files (binary, text, PDF, docs, audio, video, etc.) included in computer software.
The operating system's file system has the ability to manage both single files and groups of files that are present in a computer system. All of the files on the computer system with different extensions(such as .exe, .pdf, .txt, .docx, etc.) are managed by the operating system's file management.
Functions of File Management System in Operating System
The file management system is also known as the file system. It is responsible for file management in any system. The various functions involved in file management are as follows:
- It is responsible for creating new files in the computer system and placing them in specific locations.
- It is responsible for locating the existing files in the computer system.
- It facilitates keeping the files in separate folders known as directories. These directories allow users to quickly search for files or organize files based on their types of uses.
- It enables users to change the data of files or the name of files in directories.
Components of File Management in Operating System
The components of the file management system in the operating system are as follows:
- File Attribute
- File Operations
- File Access Permissions
- File Systems
File Attribute
It specifies file characteristics such as type, date of last modification, size, location on disk, and so on. File attributes assist the user in comprehending the value and location of files. It is used to describe all of the information about a specific file.
File Operations
It defines the actions that can be taken on a file, such as opening and closing it.
File Access Permissions
It specifies a file's access permissions, such as read and writes. Without permission, a file cannot be accessed.
File Systems
It defines the logical method of storing files in a computer system. FAT and NTFS are two of the most commonly used file systems.
You can also read about layered structure of operating system.
Operations on File Systems in Operating System
The various operation on files that can be performed by a user and is facilitated by the file management in the operating system are:
- Creating a File
- Reading a File
- Writing a File
- Deleting a File
- Truncating a File
Creating a File
In order to create a new file, there should be ample space in the file system. The new file's directory entry must then be created. This entry should include information about the file, such as its name, location, etc.
Reading a File
The system call must specify the file's name and location to read from a file. A read pointer should be present at the location where the read should occur. The read pointer should be updated once the read process is completed.
Writing a File
To write to a file, the system call should specify the file's name as well as the contents to be written. A write pointer should be present at the location where the write should occur. The write pointer should be updated after the write process is completed.
Deleting a File
In order to delete a file, it must be present in the directory. When the file is deleted, all the file space is deleted so it can be reused by other files.
Truncating a File
This removes the data from the file without erasing all of its attributes. Only the file length is reset to zero, and the contents of the file are erased. The remaining characteristics remain unchanged.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a file?
A file is a collection of specific information stored in a computer system's memory. There are various types of files in our computer-like text files, images, audio/video files, etc. All these files have different extensions(such as .exe, .pdf, .txt, .docx, etc.).
What is file management in operating systems?
File management is formally defined as manipulating files in a computer system, which includes creating, modifying, and deleting files. Therefore, one of the simple but crucial features offered by the operating system is file management. The operating system's file management function entails software that handles or maintains files included in computer software.
What are some of the important functions of the file management system in an operating system?
The important functions of file management in the operating system are creating new files in the computer system, locating the existing files in the computer system, keeping the files in separate folders known as directories, and enabling users to change the data of files or the name of files in directories, etc.
What are the components of file management in the operating system?
The components of file management in the operating system are file attributes, file operations, file access permissions, and file systems. File Attributes specify file characteristics. Operations define the actions that can be taken on a file. Access and file system specifies a file's access permissions and logical method for storing files, respectively.
What are the various types of operations that are performed on a file?
The various operations possible on a file are creating, reading, writing, deleting, and truncating a file. To perform these operations, the user does these actions using the operating system's available commands.
Conclusion
In this article, we have extensively discussed file management in operating systems.
Recommended Readings:
- Fork() System Call
- Types of Operating Systems
- Features of Operating Systems
- Advantages Of Operating System
- Why is there a need for operating systems
- Addressing Modes in Computer Architecture
- Operating System interview questions
- Functions of an Operating System
- Multiprogramming Operating System
- Batch Processing Operating System
- CPU Scheduling.
- Structures of Directory
- File Allocation methods
- File Access Methods
- Device Management in Operating System
- Disk Management in OS
- Buddy System In OS
- Register in Computer
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