On embedded devices, yes, this is actually used in file systems like JFFS2. But in these cases the flash chip is just dumb storage and the translation layer is implemented on the main CPU in software. So there's no "drive" really.

On NVMe/PC type applications with a controller driving the flash chips… I have absolutely no idea. I'm curious too, if anyone knows :)

I do know. Apparently you downvoted my sibling response to you as too simplistic, but I was clearly responding to someone where the embedded bare drive situation is irrelevant.

When it comes to what non bare flash drives do, you can start here: http://www.vldb.org/pvldb/vol13/p519-kakaraparthy.pdf

This paper is imperfect and the following citations are worth skimming. There's a cohort of similar papers chasing the same basic question in recent years that aren't densely cited amongst each other.

Go here next: https://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.46... but note that's just a jumping off point to the more recent papers.

It's hard to gain a full understanding of this layer because it's the basis of intense competition, hence held closely by controller manufacturers.

I'm far from world expert on this, but have read a lot about it and can answer with what I know to the best of my ability.

> Apparently you downvoted my sibling response to you as too simplistic,

I didn't downvote your sibling response, but I did ignore it since it provided neither any sources nor any context for why I should trust your knowledge. Apparently others were less kind on your short statement.

With the additional information in this post, I'm much more willing to accept it into my head — thanks for answering this!

Yeah sorry that was unnecessarily grouchy of me.

Generally no, because the unit of write is a page.