# How fsync and Linux write paths affect data durability

DevFeed: [How fsync and Linux write paths affect data durability](<https://devfeed.tech/articles/how-safe-is-your-fsync-39635.md>)

Original publisher: [Read original article](<https://www.gauravsarma.com/posts/2025-02-20_how-safe-is-your-fsync>)

Published: 2025-02-20T00:00:00Z

Content type: tutorial

Language: en

Sources: [Gaurav Sarma's Blog](<https://devfeed.tech/sources/gaurav-sarma-s-blog.md>)

Topics: [Linux](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/linux.md>), [Filesystems](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/filesystems.md>), [Kernel](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/kernel.md>), [Operating system](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/operating-system.md>), [systems](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/systems.md>)

Tags: [filesystems](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/filesystems.md>), [fsync](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/fsync.md>), [kernel](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/kernel.md>), [linux](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/linux.md>), [operating-systems](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/operating-systems.md>), [storage](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/storage.md>)

## AI overview

This technical explainer follows a Linux write from user space through kernel buffers, the virtual file system, and storage. It describes how buffering, lazy flushing, filesystems, and sync-related options affect whether data and metadata reach disk, while noting that behavior varies by filesystem and operating system.

## Source excerpt

. [How Safe Is Your fsync...