File attribute

<p>File attributes are a type of <a href="/facts/Metadata/qt35z79C">metadata</a> that describe and may modify how <a href="/facts/Computer_file/FjFH3Ufm">files</a> and/or <a href="/facts/Directory_(file_systems)/VLtLcEXY">directories</a> in a <a href="/facts/Filesystem/FdPm90uc">filesystem</a> behave. Typical file attributes may, for example, indicate or specify whether a file is visible, modifiable, compressed, or encrypted. The availability of most file attributes depends on support by the underlying filesystem (such as <a href="/facts/File_Allocation_Table/uFvpmWxa">FAT</a>, <a href="/facts/NTFS/dryNM3BK">NTFS</a>, <a href="/facts/Ext4/zFbQRpsh">ext4</a>) 
where attribute data must be stored along with other control structures. Each attribute can have one of two states: set and cleared. Attributes are considered distinct from other metadata, such as dates and times, <a href="/facts/Filename_extension/cJgfAym4">filename extensions</a> or <a href="/facts/File_system_permissions/DHq5SwI4">file system permissions</a>. In addition to files, <a href="/facts/Folder_(computing)/VLtLcEXY">folders</a>, <a href="/facts/Volume_(computing)/g94wpmdC">volumes</a> and other file system objects may have attributes.
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File attribute open-in-new

File attribute