FAT32
Technology & Computing abbreviation · Computer
| Stands for | File Allocation Table, 32-bit |
|---|---|
| Categories | Technology & Computing |
FAT32 stands for File Allocation Table, 32-bit, a computer abbreviation.
Widely compatible file system for USB drives and memory cards that works with Windows, macOS, Linux, game consoles, car stereos and TVs. Its key limit is a maximum file size of 4 GB minus 1 byte.
Example: The 6 GB movie won't copy because the flash drive is formatted FAT32.
Usage notes
Introduced with Windows 95 OSR2 in 1996 to handle larger drives than FAT16. Windows' graphical formatter has long capped new FAT32 volumes at 32 GB, a policy rather than a format limit, and third-party tools create much larger ones. SDHC cards come formatted FAT32 by specification. For files over 4 GB, exFAT or NTFS is the usual answer.
Related abbreviations
More computer abbreviations
- DP – Data processing
- EBCDIC – Extended Binary Coded Decimal Interchange Code
- Esc – Escape key
- exFAT – Extended File Allocation Table
- ext4 – Fourth extended file system
- FAT – File Allocation Table
- Fn – Function key (modifier)
- GIGO – Garbage in, garbage out
- GPO – Group Policy Object
- GPT – GUID Partition Table
- GUI – Graphical user interface
- HCI – Human-computer interaction