1.2 Memory and Storage

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Secondary Storage

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Permanent storage of data (non-volatile). Retains data when the computer is switched off. Examples: HDD, USB Flash Drives, CD

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Magnetic Storage

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A type of secondary storage where the drive uses North and South polarity to retain data. Examples: Magnetic HDDs, Tape Drives, Floppy Disks

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Solid State Storage

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A type of secondary storage that uses no moving parts to store data. Examples: SSDs, SD Cards, USB Flash Drives

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Optical Storage

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A type of secondary storage that stores data on optical disks. The data is written and read by using a laser. Examples: CD-ROM, CD-RW, Blu Ray.

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Capacity

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The amount of data a primary or secondary storage device can store.

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Portability

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How portable a device is. Normally due to its size but also if it has any moving part.

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Durability

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How able the device is to withstand wear, pressure, or damage.

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Reliability

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How well that device consistently performs over time.

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Transfer Speed

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The amount of data that can be transferred to or from a device in a given time. E.g. MBps (megabytes per second)

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Cost per GB

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The amount it costs per GB of storage.