A humongous amount of data is stored every day on hard drives. But do you know you need a proper file system to store data on hard drives?
Yes, a file system is the only way to store, manage, and organize different types of data on hard drives. No matter which operating system you use, a file system is necessary to store files on the connected hard drive.
Windows and Mac are the leading operating systems, and both have their dedicated file systems, named New Technology File System (NTFS) and Apple Files System (APFS). Users are quite interested in NTFS Vs. APFS. In this article, we will get into this contest and highlight the differences, advantages, and disadvantages of both.
NTFS is a journaling file system developed by Microsoft. It was introduced in 1993 with Windows NT 3.1, and now it is the default file system of the Windows NT family, superseding the Files Allocation Table (FAT), which had several limitations. These limitations include limited single files and partition size with no data protection in the case of a power failure.
In comparison to its predecessor, NTFS resolves these limitations. On top of this, it also offers numerous advantages according to modern-day needs.
NTFS offers some really intriguing features, such as supporting metadata and using advanced data structures to improve performance, reliability, disk space utilization, and several additional extensions. Besides this, below are the main advantages and disadvantages of NTFS.
APFS is the latest file system and the successor of Mac OS Extended. It was first introduced for macOS High Sierra 10.13 back in September 2017. Since then, it has been the default file system for macOS.
It is specifically designed for the latest flash/SSD storage types. However, it still works with older hard drives as well. The APFS offers multiple formats, such as APFS, Encrypted, Case-sensitive, and Encrypted Case-sensitive.
APFS includes some noticeable features for data security, overall efficiency, and speed. Below are the key advantages and disadvantages of the APFS you should know.
Just like any other file system, APFS has some drawbacks. It misses out on multiple features which you get in other file systems. It includes:
All these features offer numerous advantages.
Microsoft and Apple always go neck to neck to offer the best to their users in every aspect. The same competition we see when it comes to a file system. As you know, it is a critical part of any operating system, and both Microsoft and Apple offer the best file system in the shape of NTFS and APFS. The NTFS Vs. The APFS comparison has a lot of factors to look up. We will clarify many points with the help of a table here.
| NTFS | APFS |
|---|---|
| It has a max file size of 265TB. | It has a max file size of 263 bytes. |
| It supports volumes as large as 8 petabytes. | It supports up to 9 quintillions (1018) files. |
| The date resolution is 100 nanoseconds. | The date resolution is 1 nanosecond. |
| It supports file compression. | There is no support for file compression. |
Apart from these key differences, both file systems support file names up to 255 characters. Transparent encryption of data is a significant feature of both file systems.
Both file systems have their unique capabilities and limitations. It highly depends on your scenario, needs, and expectations. Windows will prefer NTFS if he has to share his drive with others. On the other hand, APFS is a perfect option for Mac users for its seamless compatibility.
You should install NTFS for mac if you work with NTFS formatted drives.
APFS is the best for mac because it is the default file system for it. It works perfectly with Apple's ecosystem of digital devices.
APFS is readable on Windows with the help of third-party tools, such as Paragon Software.