hierarchical file system (HFS)

The Hierarchical File System(HFS+ is the ISO 9660file system for the Mac operating system. The HFS file system is suitable for hard disks, floppy and CD drives and USB sticks.

Unlike file allocation tables( FAT) for personal computers, the HFS system works with small allocation units. With HFS, the data of a file is stored in two file areas. HFS searches for the largest free block of space on the hard disk and stores the file to be saved in it. If the selected space is not enough to store the file, the HFS system works with fragmentation and stores the fragmented part of the file in another memory block.

Compact discs (CD) burned with HFS can be read by all Mac computers. With HFS+ a further development of the HFS system is available.