Which of the following is a major file system?

• A. FAT
• B. Ext4
• C. NTFS
• D. Ext2

Answer: (C)

A major file system is one that is widely adopted by a primary operating system and offers features that support reliability, security, and handling large amounts of data. NTFS, the default file system for Windows, embodies this well. It includes journaling to protect against corruption, Access Control Lists for granular file permissions, built-in encryption (EFS), compression, and support for very large files and volumes. These capabilities make NTFS the standard choice in Windows environments and a prime example of a major file system.

The other options have valid uses but are tied to different ecosystems or older designs. FAT is a long-standing, simple format mainly for compatibility and removable media, lacking modern features like journaling and advanced security. Ext4 and Ext2 are Linux file systems, with Ext4 providing modern features and performance for Linux, while Ext2 is an older, non-journaling variant.