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The file that defines system- and user-defined attributes of the NTFS volume is $attrdef. This file plays a crucial role in NTFS (New Technology File System) by providing a mapping of the attribute types and their corresponding identifiers. It serves as a reference for both system and user-defined attributes, enabling the operating system to understand and manage the various metadata associated with files and directories within the volume.

In NTFS, attributes are essentially pieces of information that describe the files and directories, such as file size, timestamps, and permissions. The $attrdef file helps the file system recognize how to interpret these attributes, ensuring proper data access and management.

The other files mentioned serve different purposes within the NTFS structure. For example, $data contains the actual data of a file, $index is used for managing index structures to support fast file searching and access, and $security contains security descriptor information for files and directories to manage permissions. Each file plays a distinct role, but it is the $attrdef file that specifically defines the attributes.