is a widely used technology for data storage and retrieval. One of the most common forms of magnetic storage is the (HDD). An HDD consists of multiple disks, known as s, which are coated with a magnetic material. The data is stored on these platters in concentric circles called s. Each track is further divided into smaller units called s.
To access the data on the HDD, a is used. This head hovers over the surface of the spinning platters and reads or writes data by creating or detecting magnetic fields. The head moves across the tracks and sectors under the control of a , which coordinates the data transfer between the HDD and the computer.
Another form of magnetic storage is , commonly used for and purposes. A reads and writes data to the magnetic tape, which is spooled between reels. Due to its sequential access nature, tape drives are ideal for long-term and recovery.
and are essential concepts in data storage. (RAID) is a technique that combines multiple HDDs into a single logical unit to improve performance or provide data redundancy. In RAID, data is divided and distributed across the disks in different configurations, enhancing both data redundancy and read/write speeds.
In recent years, s (SSDs) have gained popularity due to their improved performance and reliability. Unlike HDDs, which use spinning platters, SSDs store data on flash memory chips. This makes them faster, more durable, and less susceptible to physical damage.
Keywords
disk controller | magnetic storage | magnetic tape | archiving | hard disk drive | data mirroring | tape drive | read/write head | backup | redundant array of independent disks | sector | platter | data retention | solid-state drive | track | data redundancy |
