Final answer:
The Master File Table (MFT) on NTFS volumes in Windows assigns an MFT record number to each file and directory, which is used to locate the MFT entry that holds the file's metadata for file operations.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Master File Table (MFT) is a critical part of the NTFS file system used by Windows operating systems. MFT metadata addresses refer to the location where the file system stores metadata about each file and directory on an NTFS volume. This metadata includes information such as file attributes, security descriptors, and timestamps. MFT entries are indexed by an identifier known as the MFT record number. Each record number points to a specific location on the disk where the file's metadata is stored. When a file is accessed, the file system uses the record number to quickly locate the MFT entry and retrieve the needed metadata to manage the file operations.
The MFT grows dynamically as new files and directories are added to the volume, ensuring that information is stored efficiently and can be accessed rapidly. In essence, the MFT serves as a centralized directory for all file information, which simplifies file management tasks for the operating system.