Storage devices

What is a storage device

A storage device refers to a computing hardware used to store information permanently or temporarily. The device can be external or internal to a computer, server, and other computing systems. Storage devices are also known as storage medias or storage medium. There are two types of storage device: secondary storage device and primary storage device.

Secondary storage device

A secondary storage device has a larger storage capacity and can store data permanently. The device can be both external and internal to a computer and includes; compact disk, USB drive, hard disk, etc.

Primary storage device

A primary storage device is quite smaller in size and it’s designed to capture or hold data for a temporary period. Most primary storage devices are found inside the computer, and they have the fastest access to data. Examples of Primary devices include Cache memory and RAM.

Examples of Storage Device

• Magnetic Storage Device – one of the most popular types of storage used.
  • Floppy diskette – A normal 3 ½ inch disk can store 1.44 MB of data.
  • Hard drive – An internal hard drive is the main storage device in a computer. An external hard drive is also known as removable hard drive.  It is used to store portable data and backups.
  • Magnetic strip – Magnetic tape drive stores video and audio using magnetic tape, like tape and video tape recorders.
  • Super disk – A disk drive and diskette that can hold 120 MB and 240 MB of data.
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• Optical Storage Device – uses lasers and lights as its mode of saving and retrieving data.
  • Blu-ray disc – A digital optical storage device which was intended to replace the DVD format.
  • CD-ROM disc – An optical storage device that is read-only or cannot be modified nor deleted.
  • CD-R and CD-RW disc – CD-R is a recordable disc that can be written to once, while CD-RW is a rewritable disc that can be written to multiple times.
  • DVD-R, DVD+R, DVD-RW and DVD+RW disc – DVD-R and DVD+R are recordable discs that can be written to once, while DVD-RW and DVD+RW are rewritable discs that can be written to multiple times. The difference between the + and – is in the formatting and compatibility.
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• Flash Memory Device – is now replacing magnetic storage device as it is economical, more functional and dependable.
  • Memory card – An electronic flash memory device used to store digital information and commonly used in mobile electronic devices.
  • Memory stick – A memory card that is removable.
  • USB flash drive, jump drive or thumb drive – A small, portable storage device connected through the USB port.
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• Online and Cloud – is now becoming widespread as people access data from different devices.
  • Cloud storage – Data is managed remotely and made available over a network. Basic features are free to use but upgraded version is paid monthly as a per consumption rate.
  • Network media – Audio, Video, Images or Text that are used on a computer network. A community of people create and use the content shared over the internet.
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• Paper Storage – method used by early computers for saving information.
  • OMR – stands for Optical Mark Recognition – A process of capturing marked data of human from forms like surveys and tests. It is used to read questionnaires with multiple choices that are shaded.
  • Punch card – A piece of hard paper used to contain digital information coming from the perforated holes.  The presence or absence of holes in predetermined positions define the data.