In a FAT file system, the FAT tracks the ________ while the directory entry tracks the ________.

In a FAT file system, the File Allocation Table (FAT) is responsible for tracking the allocation of clusters for each file, which includes information about a file’s starting cluster as well as any subsequent clusters that may be allocated to the file. Therefore, the FAT provides a mapping of these clusters, allowing the operating system to locate the file's data on the disk efficiently.

On the other hand, directory entries contain critical metadata about the files stored in the directory, including attributes such as the file name and the file's starting cluster. The directory entry does not track the EOF (End of File) directly; instead, it provides information that leads to where the file begins on the disk.

Thus, the correct pairing involves the FAT tracking the file's starting cluster while the directory entry provides data relevant to the file's last cluster (EOF). This pairing confirms the relationship where the FAT guides the system to the file's data starting point, while the directory entry encapsulates information related to the complete structure of the file, including its end point.