Flash Translation Layer (FTL)

The Flash Translation Layer (FTL) acts as a smart intermediary in solid-state drives (SSDs), managing how data is written and read. Since SSDs store data in flash memory with limitations like needing to erase entire blocks before rewriting, the FTL translates logical data addresses from your computer into physical locations on the drive. It also handles tasks like wear leveling to prolong lifespan and bad block management to ensure reliability. Essentially, the FTL makes SSDs faster, more durable, and transparent to users by managing complex low-level operations behind the scenes.