Which version of the FAT file system employs 4 bytes per cluster in the file allocation table?

FAT32 is the version of the FAT (File Allocation Table) file system that uses 4 bytes per cluster. This approach was necessary to allow for a larger number of clusters compared to its predecessors, which use fewer bytes per cluster. In FAT32, the increased size of the file allocation table was required to accommodate disks larger than 2 GB, enabling support for larger files and improved efficiency in managing storage.

FAT16 and FAT12 employ 2 bytes and 1.5 bytes per cluster respectively, which limits the number of clusters that can be addressed and thus the maximum volume size. Although FAT64 is not an official standard recognized in the same way, it is sometimes referred to when discussing enhancements over FAT32, but it doesn't use the 4 bytes per cluster configuration. Therefore, FAT32 is distinct for its ability to handle larger files and storage capacities through the use of 4 bytes in its allocation structure.