What is File Allocation Table & Whether I Need to Use It?

I heard that a File Allocation Table is also a kind of file system but knew nothing about it. Can anyone introduce the File Allocation Table to me? I want to know what it is, its advantages and disadvantages, and its examples. Thanks a lot!

For the question “What is a File Allocation Table?”, I would like to talk to you. File Allocation Table, also short for FAT, is a file system that is used to organize and manage data on storage devices, such as USB flash drives, external hard drives, SD cards, etc.

It is an old file system that was developed for personal computers by Microsoft throughout the DOS and Windows 9x eras. With the introduction of in 2001, FAT was no longer the standard for the home user.

Are File Allocation Tables still used? The old file system File Allocation Table is no longer used for modern storage devices and computers. Windows Me was the final version of Windows that took FAT as its default file system.

The original File Allocation Table (FAT) file system was designed in the late 1970s for floppy disks and later used in early versions of MS-DOS and Windows. For modern computers, we often use FAT32 and exFAT. Both of them are part of the File Allocation Table family of file systems. They are successors of FAT and overcome the drawbacks of FAT.

When it comes to the advantages and disadvantages of a File Allocation Table, I have something to say.

The FAT file system is the foundation for subsequent FAT file systems like FAT32 and exFAT. Although it is an old file system, it also has some advantages.

  • Cross-platform compatibility

FAT is universally supported by almost every major operating system, including Windows, macOS, Linux, and even embedded systems like gaming consoles and cameras.

  • Simple and easy to implement

FAT is easy to implement and less prone to complex failures compared to more modern file systems. It is friendly for low-resource systems and embedded devices with limited computing power.

  • Low overhead

Due to its simplicity and straightforwardness, FAT has lower system resource usage. So, read and write data becomes fast on devices with small storage capacities and low memory.

However, FAT also has disadvantages. That’s why the later FAT32 and exFAT file systems came out to replace it.

  • Having file and partition size limitations

  • Lack of security features

  • Not friendly for large volumes

  • Being prone to fragmentation

  • Not support modern modern devices and operating systems

The examples of File Allocation Table are its successors, including FAT12, FAT16, FAT32, and exFAT. All of them are cross-platform but have different features.

FAT12 is the 12-bit version of the File Allocation Table. It is the original file system in the FAT family, released in 1977 for floppy disks, and was included in MS-DOS and early versions of Windows. Its maximum file size is 32 MB, and its maximum partition size is 16 MB.

FAT16 (File Allocation Table, 16-bit version) was introduced in 1984 as part of MS-DOS 3.0 and was designed to support larger storage capacities compared to its predecessor, FAT12.

FAT32 (File Allocation Table, 32-bit version) was introduced in 1996 with Windows 95 OSR2. It was developed to address the limitations of previous versions of FAT file systems. The maximum file size of FAT32 is 4 GB and the maximum partition size is 8 TB. FAT32 is widely used on portable storage devices like SD cards and USB drives even in recent years.

exFAT is the modern member of the FAT family. It is designed to bridge the gap between the older FAT32 and NTFS file systems, offering support for larger files and partitions while maintaining cross-platform compatibility. The maximum file size of exFAT is 16 EB and its maximum partition size is 128 PB.

In a word, if you want to use the FAT file system, you’re suggested to format your drive to exFAT only if your drive has over 32 GB of capacity. If the storage size of the drive is less than 32GB, using FAT32 is better.