How do I format my memory card on my computer?

Does it matter whether I format a memory card in my camera or on my computer?

• On digital photography forums I often see people advising others to always use the camera to format a memory card, never a computer. Does it actually make any difference at all, or is it just superstition at this point if one is using a modern camera and a modern operating system? Seems to me the filesystem format is pretty well-understood. Unless either the camera or the computer has a buggy FAT32 implementation, how would the origin of the initial version of the filesystem metadata be relevant or even detectable?

• Answer:

  For older cameras, this might still make a different. When formatted in-camera, some root files are added for the camera's use. Cameras made in the past 5 or 6 years are all smart enough to figure out that the card is clean because it was formatted in a PC or card back-up device. It really doesn't matter anymore.