Disk partitioning

Disk partitioning divides a physical storage device into logical sections that an operating system can manage separately. Each partition occupies a defined range of the device's addressable space.

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Partition table: A data structure that records a disk's partitions, their boundaries, and related attributes. It stores the map that lets firmware and operating systems locate partitions.
Block device: A device that reads and writes data in fixed-size addressable blocks. Partitioning presents ranges of a block device as separate logical devices.
Dual boot: A computer setup that allows a choice between two operating systems at startup. Separate system partitions let each operating system maintain its own files and configuration.
Disk formatting: The preparation of a storage volume by creating a filesystem or another data structure on it. Formatting organizes data inside a volume; partitioning defines regions of the device.
Master Boot Record: A legacy disk layout standard that stores boot code and a partition table in a disk's first sector. It is the older partitioning format, with limits on partition count and disk size.
Disk sector: A fixed-size addressable unit of storage on a disk, represented by a logical block address. Partition boundaries are ultimately expressed as ranges of addressable sectors.
Swap partition: A disk partition reserved for virtual memory when operating-system memory is insufficient or suspended. It is a dedicated partition type used for a specific memory-management purpose.
Dynamic disk: A Microsoft Windows disk scheme that uses a private database to manage dynamic volumes. Dynamic volumes offer software-managed layouts that differ from traditional partition entries.
GUID Partition Table: A partition-table format using globally unique identifiers and redundant metadata, commonly paired with UEFI systems. It supports large disks and more partitions than the legacy MBR format.
Volume (computing): A storage area presented to an operating system as a unit for filesystems or data access. A partition may be used as a volume, though the terms are not identical.