Minifilter drivers are a fundamental part of the Windows kernel, allowing developers to intercept and modify file system operations without directly modifying the file system driver itself. They are widely used for security applications (e.g., antivirus software), data monitoring, and custom file system behavior implementations. This section covers how minifilter drivers work, how they interact with file system I/O, and best practices for writing efficient and stable minifilter drivers. Mastering these concepts is essential for students interested in kernel-level file system development and security applications.