What does GPT stand for when referring to disk partitioning?

The term GPT stands for GUID Partition Table. This is a modern partitioning scheme that is part of the UEFI standard, which replaces the older Master Boot Record (MBR) partitioning method.

GUID stands for Globally Unique Identifier, and this is significant because it allows each partition to be uniquely identified across all systems, reducing conflicts that might arise with naming conventions. GPT supports larger disks and more partitions than MBR; specifically, it can handle disks larger than 2TB and allows for more than four primary partitions, providing greater flexibility for disk management.

In contrast, the other options do not accurately represent the standard: General Partition Table and Global Partition Table are not recognized terminologies in disk partitioning, while Graphical Partition Table implies a user interface aspect that is unrelated to the actual structure and function of the partitioning scheme. Understanding GPT's role and advantages is essential for anyone working with modern operating systems and large storage devices.