File Reference - Concept - NTFS Documentation
Description: NTFS Documentation

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# Concept - File Reference

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## Overview

A unique identifier for a FILE record in the MFT.

## Layout

Offset | Size | Description
--- | --- | ---
0x00 | 6 | FILE record number
0x06 | 2 | Sequence number

## Notes

### Sequence number

If the filesystem is consistent, this number must match the sequence number of the FILE record referenced by the FILE record number.

        mft references (aka file references or file record segment references) are
        used whenever a structure needs to refer to a record in the mft.

        A reference consists of a 48-bit index into the mft and a 16-bit sequence
        number used to detect stale references.

        when is the seq num incremented

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