answer to the following question:
What is File Metadata and How is it Stored in Windows?
Metadata is data about data, and file metadata is data about a file stored in a computer system. File metadata helps describe the characteristics of a file and can include information such as the file name, file size, file type, file owner, and the time and date it was created or modified. File metadata is stored in different ways depending on the computer system. In Windows, file metadata is stored in the file system and in the file properties.
The File System
The file system is the component of the Windows operating system responsible for managing the storage, organization, and retrieval of files on the computer. In Windows, the file system is based on the NTFS (New Technology File System) format. When a file is created or modified, the file system stores certain pieces of data about the file, including the file name, file size, and the date and time it was created or modified. This data is stored as file metadata and is used to help identify and locate the file.
File Properties
In addition to the file system, Windows also stores file metadata in the file properties. File properties are additional pieces of data about a file stored in the file system. File properties can include information such as the author of the file, the software used to create the file, and the file description. The user can view and modify the file properties by right-clicking the file in Windows Explorer and selecting Properties.
Other Types of Metadata
In addition to the file system and file properties, Windows also stores other types of metadata about a file. For example, Windows can store information about the applications used to open a file, the number of times a file has been opened, the last time the file was opened, and the number of times the file has been edited. This data is stored in the file’s attributes.
Conclusion
In Windows, file metadata is stored in both the file system and in the file properties. The file system stores basic information about a file such as the file name, file size, and the date and time it was created or modified. The file properties store additional pieces of data about a file, including information such as the author of the file, the software used to create the file, and the file description. In addition to the file system and file properties, Windows also stores other types of metadata about a file in its attributes.
