What is a file system primarily responsible for?

A file system is primarily responsible for organizing files on a storage device. This includes managing how data is stored and retrieved, creating a hierarchy of directories, maintaining file metadata (like names, sizes, and timestamps), and ensuring that files can be efficiently accessed and updated. The file system provides the structure that allows users and applications to locate and manipulate files easily, facilitating the overall data management within the operating system.

This responsibility encompasses handling various file operations, such as creating, deleting, renaming, and reading files. Different file systems may implement unique features or performance optimizations, but the core function remains the systematic organization of files and directories on the storage media.