Sparse file

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In computer science, a sparse file is a type of computer file that attempts to use file system space more efficiently. When space has been allocated to a file but not actually filled with data it is not written to the file system. Instead information on these "empty" regions is stored until they are filled with data.

File systems supporting sparse files include: NTFS, ext2, ext3, XFS, JFS, ReiserFS, Reiser4, UFS

[edit] See also

• Comparison of file systems
• Sparse matrix

[edit] References

• Giampaolo, Dominic (1999). Practical File System Design with the Be File System. Morgan Kaufmann. ISBN 1-55860-497-9

[edit] External links

• Creating sparse files in Windows XP Professional using fsutil