# What is a virtual file system

In **Data Mover**, the **Virtual File System (VFS)** provides a unified, structured, and secure way to organize and reference files. 

Each VFS belongs to an **Actor**, which determines who can interact with it and which applications or partners can use the associated virtual paths. Access to files within a VFS is strictly controlled. Files are structured and exposed only to the users and groups who have the **appropriate authorizations**.

Each VFS contains one or more **virtual paths**, which are logical (non‑physical) directories used to reference where files are located or temporarily stored. These virtual paths enable Data Mover to organize and manage files.

Data Mover treats VFSs as **metadata attributes** assigned to files. The relationship between files and VFSs is **many‑to‑many**:

* Multiple files can belong to the same VFS.
* A single file can be associated with multiple VFSs.

Every VFS belongs to a specific **Actor**. 

Case sensitivity is fully enforced at all levels of the VFS structure. For example:

* An Actor can have two distinct VFSs named **“primeur”** and **“PRIMEUR”**.
* A VFS can contain two distinct virtual paths named **“vp”** and **“VP”**.
* A virtual path can store two distinct files named **“file.txt”** and **“File.txt”**.

{% hint style="danger" %}
Although Unix systems are case‑sensitive, Microsoft Windows and macOS are only case‑preserving. They display the case differences but treat “file.txt” and “File.txt” as the same file when they are located in the same directory. By contrast, Data Mover’s VFS model ensures that case sensitivity is always preserved and enforced.
{% endhint %}


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