Abstract: A computer file system, particularly adapted to UNIX operating systems, for transparently allowing access to and modification of snapshot objects, i.e., files, directories, and symbolic links. The file system creates a mountpoint directory and dynamically searches the computer system to find a requested file object, manifesting a representation of the requested file object in the mountpoint directory if it is found. If an earlier representation of the requested file object already exists (in the mountpoint directory), then any further requests for the file object are directed to the earlier representation. Searching can be performed along a viewpath having two or more independent search paths, including those based on an object name, or based on an object name extension. The binding file translation is done entirely within the kernel to speed up processing, as well as minimize the overhead required to establish mountpoints across different machines.