Picking Storage Format
Picking Storage Format
TL;DR – Best File System Choices by Use Case
- HDD for macOS: Use Mac OS Extended (Journaled) (HFS+ Journaled).
- SSD for macOS/iOS: Use APFS (Apple File System), especially for SSDs and modern macOS/iOS devices.
- Windows + Linux (read/write), macOS (read-only): Use NTFS. macOS can read NTFS natively, but write access requires third-party tools.
- Linux-only: Use ext4. It’s the default and most robust choice for Linux environments.
- SD cards for cameras/drones: Use FAT32 for maximum compatibility, or exFAT for larger files/devices. Always check device requirements.
Storage Terminology
- GB, TB: Decimal-based (powers of 10, e.g., 1 GB = 1,000,000,000 bytes).
- GiB, TiB, EiB: Binary-based (powers of 2, e.g., 1 GiB = 1,073,741,824 bytes).
- Relative sizes:
- 1 GiB ≈ 1.074 GB
- 1 TiB ≈ 1.10 TB
- 1 EiB ≈ 1.15 EB
- Order (smallest to largest): GB < GiB < TB < TiB < EB < EiB
Journaled vs. Non-Journaled File Systems
- Journaled:
- Keeps a log (“journal”) of intended changes before they are committed.
- On crash/power loss, the system uses the journal to recover quickly and safely, minimizing file corruption.
- Examples: NTFS (Windows), HFS+ Journaled (macOS), ext4 (Linux), APFS (uses copy-on-write for similar protection).
- Non-Journaled:
- No log of operations; if interrupted, file system can become inconsistent and require lengthy repairs.
- Examples: FAT32, exFAT, ext2.
Analogy: A journaled file system is like following a recipe with checkmarks for each step, so you always know where you left off after an interruption. Non-journaled is like cooking from memory—if interrupted, you might forget what you’ve done, risking mistakes.
Journaling File System: Pros and Cons
Advantages:
- Higher data integrity and faster recovery after crashes.
- Reduces risk of corruption, especially in unexpected shutdowns.
Disadvantages:
- Slight performance overhead due to extra write operations.
- Uses some extra disk space for the journal.
File System Comparison Table
| Feature / Use Case | NTFS | exFAT | FAT32 | APFS | HFS+ Journaled | ext4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Primary OS | Windows | Cross-Platform | Cross-Platform | macOS | macOS | Linux |
| Native R/W Support | Win: Yes, Mac: Read-only, Linux: Yes (ntfs-3g) | Win/Mac/Linux: Yes (modern) | Win/Mac/Linux: Yes | Mac: Yes, Linux: Read-only, Win: 3P* | Mac: Yes, Linux: Yes (caveats), Win: 3P* | Linux: Yes, Win/Mac: 3P* |
| Optimal Drive Type | HDD/SSD | Flash/SSD | Flash | SSD | HDD/SSD | HDD/SSD |
| Portability | Good (Windows) | Excellent | Good | Fair (macOS) | Fair (macOS) | Fair (Linux) |
| Power Loss Resistance | Good (Journaled) | Poor | Very Poor | Excellent | Good | Excellent |
| Long Term Storage | Good | Fair | Poor | Good | Fair | Good |
| Speed/Efficiency | Good (Windows) | Good | Fair | Excellent | Good (macOS) | Excellent |
| Max File Size | ~16 EB | ~128 PB | 4 GB | ~8 EB | ~8 EB | ~16 TB |
| Max Volume Size | ~8 PB | ~128 PB | ~2-8 TB | Unlimited | Unlimited | ~1 EB |
Notes:
- 3P = Third-Party tool required for full support on some OSes.
- exFAT is best for large files and cross-platform flash storage, but lacks journaling and is more prone to corruption than NTFS or APFS.
- FAT32 is universal but limited to 4GB files and ~8TB partitions.
- APFS is optimized for SSDs and modern Apple devices, with advanced features like snapshots and encryption.
- ext4 is the standard for Linux, robust and journaled, but not natively supported by Windows/macOS without extra tools.
Additional Guidance
- For Mac-only SSDs: Use APFS for best performance and features.
- For external drives shared between Mac and Windows: exFAT is simplest, but be aware of its lack of journaling (higher corruption risk if unplugged unsafely).
- For Linux/Windows shared drives: NTFS is robust, but macOS is read-only by default; third-party drivers are needed for write support.
- For SD cards in cameras/drones: FAT32 is most compatible, but exFAT is needed for files larger than 4GB or high-capacity cards.
Summary
- APFS: Best for modern macOS/iOS and SSDs.
- HFS+ Journaled: Best for older macOS and HDDs.
- NTFS: Best for Windows, good for Linux (with ntfs-3g), read-only on macOS unless using third-party tools.
- exFAT: Best for cross-platform flash drives/SD cards, but less robust than NTFS or APFS.
- FAT32: Universal, but with strict file size and partition limits.
- ext4: Best for Linux-only drives.
References
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