Abstract: A computer system that improves upon the traditional file system hierarchy is disclosed. The computer system includes a processor and a persistent data storage device that is accessible by the processor. The system also may include file system software that is executed by the processor. The file system software may operate to organize the files of the persistent data storage device into a plurality of records that are contained in a metafile. Within the metafile, the files and directories of the file system may be organized in an inverted hierarchical structure. In the inverted hierarchical structure, records corresponding to child files and child directories of a parent directory may directly point to a record in the metafile that corresponds to the parent directory. In one implementation of the file system, individual records of the metafile may be each addressable by a file identifier.