File system fragmentation: Difference between revisions

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[[File:FragmentationDefragmentation.gif|thumb|Visualization of fragmentation and then of defragmentation]]In [[computing]], '''file system fragmentation''', sometimes called '''file system aging''', is the tendency of a [[file system]] to lay out the contents of [[Computer file|files]] non-contiguouslycontinuously to allow in-place modification of their contents. It is a special case of [[fragmentation (computer)#Data fragmentation|data fragmentation]]. File system fragmentation increases disk head movement or [[seek time]] (where it applies), which are known to hinder [[throughput (disk drive)|throughput]]. In addition, file systems cannot sustain unlimited fragmentation. The correction to existing fragmentation is to reorganize files and free space back into contiguous areas, a process called [[defragmentation]].

In modern computers, with [[SSD]] "disks", that are not really [[spelling of disc|disc]]s, nor rotating, file system fragmentation isn't a problem (that should be "fixed"), as there's no movement of heads or discs. In fact, defragmenting such drives can slowly shorten their life-span.