File deduplication, also known as data deduplication, is a process of identifying and eliminating duplicate copies of data within a file system. This technique helps to reduce storage space and improve data management efficiency by only storing one unique instance of each file, while still allowing multiple users to access and modify the same file. File deduplication is commonly used in backup and archiving systems, as well as in cloud storage, to optimize storage capacity and reduce costs. By eliminating redundant data, file deduplication not only saves storage space but also speeds up data transfer and retrieval processes.