Memory Technology Device
Encyclopedia
Memory technology devices (MTD) are a new type of device file in Linux
for interacting with flash memory
. The MTD subsystem was created to provide an abstraction layer
between the hardware-specific device drivers and higher-level applications. Although character and block device files already existed, their semantics don't map well to the way that flash memory devices operate.
USB sticks, MMCs, SDs, CompactFlashes and other popular removable devices should not be confused with MTDs. Although they are also called "flash", they are not Memory Technology Devices.
Linux
Linux is a Unix-like computer operating system assembled under the model of free and open source software development and distribution. The defining component of any Linux system is the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released October 5, 1991 by Linus Torvalds...
for interacting with flash memory
Flash memory
Flash memory is a non-volatile computer storage chip that can be electrically erased and reprogrammed. It was developed from EEPROM and must be erased in fairly large blocks before these can be rewritten with new data...
. The MTD subsystem was created to provide an abstraction layer
Abstraction layer
An abstraction layer is a way of hiding the implementation details of a particular set of functionality...
between the hardware-specific device drivers and higher-level applications. Although character and block device files already existed, their semantics don't map well to the way that flash memory devices operate.
USB sticks, MMCs, SDs, CompactFlashes and other popular removable devices should not be confused with MTDs. Although they are also called "flash", they are not Memory Technology Devices.