F

FAT (File Allocation Table)

A common volume format used by PC operating systems such as Windows.

favorites

User-selected aliases to frequently accessed folders, files, network volumes, or websites.

file extension

Multicharacter suffix preceded by a period in a filename. File extensions are used to identify the correct application to execute the file.

file fork

Method of storing data in a Mac OS file system where each file has two portions: a data fork that contains the data, and a resource fork that contains information about the file itself.

file system

A combination of disk formatting and operating system features that defines how files are stored and retrieved.

FileVault

A Mac OS X feature that secures a user's home folder with AES-128 encryption.

Finder

Carbon application that manages the user's access to any item in the file system.

firewall

Hardware or software system designed to prevent unauthorized access to or from private networks.

FireWire

Apple's implementation of the IEEE 1394 serial bus standard.

firmware

Software contained in read-only memory, such as BootROMs or EPROMs.

folder

A named group of related files at a particular location in the file system hierarchy.

framework

A type of bundle that packages a dynamic shared library with the resources that the library requires, including header files and reference documentation.

FTP (File Transfer Protocol)

A networking protocol used to transfer files over a TCP/IP network, such as the Internet.