Question: ………. is the process of dividing the disk into tracks and sectors.

Answer:

The process of dividing the disk into tracks and sectors is known as "disk formatting" or "disk initialization."

Disk formatting is a preparation process performed on a disk storage medium, such as a hard disk drive (HDD) or solid-state drive (SSD), to establish the necessary structure and organization for storing and retrieving data. It involves the creation of tracks and sectors on the disk surface.

Here's a brief explanation of tracks and sectors:

- Tracks: A track is a concentric circular path on the surface of the disk. It represents a complete revolution of the read/write head of the disk drive. Tracks are typically divided into equal-sized arcs known as sectors.

- Sectors: A sector is a small, fixed-sized unit of data storage on a track. It is the smallest addressable unit on the disk and holds a specific amount of data, usually 512 bytes or 4,096 bytes (depending on the disk's formatting).

During the formatting process, the disk controller or operating system writes the necessary formatting information, such as the file system structure, track layout, sector size, and other metadata, to the disk's internal data structures. This information enables the disk drive to organize and manage data storage effectively.

Disk formatting is typically performed during the initial setup of a disk or when the disk needs to be erased and prepared for reuse. It is an essential step before the disk can be used to store files and data. The formatting process initializes the disk, ensuring that it is ready to accept data and providing the necessary framework for file systems to allocate and manage storage space.

It's important to note that disk formatting erases any existing data on the disk, so it's crucial to backup any important data before performing the formatting process.

In summary, disk formatting is the process of dividing a disk into tracks and sectors, establishing the necessary structure for data storage. It prepares the disk for data allocation, enables efficient storage management, and ensures compatibility with the chosen file system.