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Global Accelerated Learning • Est. 1999
Glossary Term Master File Table (MFT)

Training Camp • Cybersecurity Glossary

What is Master File Table (MFT)?

The Master File Table MFT is the core NTFS metadata structure recording every file and directory, a key forensic artifact for timeline analysis.

Glossary > Incident Response & Forensics > Master File Table (MFT)

Understanding Master File Table (MFT)

The Master File Table MFT is the central metadata structure of the NTFS file system, containing a record for every file and directory on a volume, including names, timestamps, sizes, permissions, and pointers to data clusters. In digital forensics the MFT is a critical artifact because its entries and resident data can reveal file creation, modification, and deletion activity even after files are removed, supporting timeline reconstruction.

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