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VFAT (Virtual File Allocation Table) is a file system that was introduced by Microsoft as an extension to the FAT (File Allocation Table) file system. VFAT was first introduced in Windows 95 and is still used in some versions of Windows today.

The main difference between VFAT and FAT32 is the way they handle long filenames. VFAT allows for long filenames (up to 255 characters) to be used, while FAT32 only allows for short filenames (up to 8 characters) with a 3 character extension.

VFAT uses a technique called “name mangling” to convert long filenames into a format that can be stored on a FAT file system. This involves using a combination of short names and additional metadata to represent the full long filename.

Another difference between VFAT and FAT32 is the way they handle file fragmentation. VFAT uses a technique called “cluster chaining” to allocate space for fragmented files, while FAT32 uses a technique called “extents” to keep track of file fragments.

Overall, VFAT is an extension to the FAT file system that provides support for long filenames, while still maintaining backwards compatibility with older operating systems that use the FAT file system. FAT32, on the other hand, is a newer version of the FAT file system that was designed to provide better support for larger hard drives and larger files, but it does not provide support for long filenames like VFAT does.