The default Windows File System for modern Windows OS introduced with Windows NT 3.1 (1993).
Pros
- Can restore files in event of system failure or power loss.
- Provides security with granular permissions on files and folders.
- Supports large-sized partitions.
- Has built-in File-system Journaling.
Cons
- Does not have native supported by most mobile devices.
- Not supported by older media devices, e.g. TVs, digital cameras.
Permissions
NTFS has many basic and advances permissions. Some key permission types are:
| Permission | Typical Meaning / Scope |
|---|---|
| Full Control | Read/Write + modify permissions, ownership, |
| ACLs. | |
| Modify | Read + write but cannot change permissions |
| or ownership. | |
| Read & Execute | Read files, list directories, execute |
| binaries. | |
| List Folder Contents | Only list directory entries – no read |
| access to files. | |
| Read | Open & read file contents; view folder |
| names. | |
| Write | Create or modify files and subfolders in a |
| folder. | |
| Read Attributes | View file/folder attributes (hidden, |
| read-only). | |
| Write Attributes | Modify file/folder attributes. |
| Read Extended Info | View extended properties (metadata). |
| Write Extended Info | Modify extended properties. |
| Delete Subfolders & Files | Delete any object inside the folder. |
| Delete | Delete objects in this folder only. |
| Traverse Folder/Execute | Allows a user to traverse the folder tree |
| without listing or reading its contents. | |
| Often used for hidden directories that | |
| should be reachable by only some users. |
Files and folders inherit the permissions of their parent folder for ease of administration.
Permissions and their inheritance can be viewed and modified with icacls.