A file system and method of file access are disclosed. In a particular embodiment, a method is performed at a host device coupled to a data storage device, where the host device includes a memory storing a file data structure. The host device receives a request to open a file and, in response to the request, retrieves location data of the file from the file data structure. The host device reads data of the file from the data storage device based on the location data and extracts metadata from the data of the file.