btrfs driver
also: Btrfs, B-tree filesystem, btfs
Btrfs (B-tree filesystem) is a modern Linux filesystem driver that provides advanced features like snapshots, copy-on-write, and built-in RAID support as an alternative to ext4 or XFS.
Btrfs is a filesystem that uses B-tree data structures internally, designed from the ground up with modern storage needs in mind. The driver implements copy-on-write semantics, meaning data is never overwritten in place—instead, new copies are created, making the filesystem more robust against corruption and power loss.
Key features include snapshots (instant read-only or read-write copies of filesystem state), subvolumes (logical filesystem divisions), and integrated RAID without needing LVM. For example, you can take a snapshot of /home before a risky operation, and instantly revert if needed: btrfs subvolume snapshot /home /home.backup
Btrfs also includes checksumming to detect and sometimes repair silent data corruption, compression support, and efficient incremental backups. While mature for most workloads, it remains marked experimental in some distributions and still receives active development.