What feature of NTFS enhances data reliability during system failures?

Journaling is a feature of the NTFS (New Technology File System) that significantly enhances data reliability during system failures. This mechanism keeps track of changes that will be made to files before they are actually executed. By maintaining a log (or journal), NTFS can ensure that if a system crash occurs, it can recover to a consistent state more effectively.

When data is written to the disk, NTFS first logs the intended changes in the journal. If a failure happens during the write process, the operating system can refer back to the journal to identify the incomplete operations and either complete them or roll them back as necessary. This reduces the risk of data corruption, making the file system more robust in the face of unexpected shutdowns or crashes.

In contrast, while file encryption, compression, and disk defragmentation contribute to security, space-saving, and performance improvements respectively, they do not specifically address reliability in the event of a system failure like journaling does. Therefore, the primary role of journaling in NTFS is to enhance the integrity and reliability of the data during unexpected interruptions.