File Attributes in Operating System:
Definition and Explanation:
Any file system needs to track the following minimum attributes of files:
File Name: Symbolic file name that is a human-readable form of file identification.
File Identifier: A unique tag not for human consumption. It identifies the file within the file system.
Type: Describes the type of information held in file. Systems that support this feature also have another attribute to hold icon data.
Location: Pointer to file location on a device.
Size: Current size of the file in bytes and/or blocks and optionally a maximum size.
Protection: Describes the users who can access the file. Access can be reading, writing, appending, reading for execution etc.
Time, date, and user ID: The time information can describe creation, last access and last update time stamps along with ownership information. It excludes the data that is to be held within the file. All other information describing the file must also be stored within the file system.
