Secondary Storage Devices

Interactive Learning Page

What is Secondary Storage?

Secondary storage is used for long-term data storage. It stores data not currently in use by the CPU. It is slower than primary storage but has much larger capacity.

Types of Secondary Storage

Magnetic Storage

Uses magnetic fields to store data. Example: Hard Disk Drive (HDD).

Optical Storage

Uses lasers to read/write data. Examples: CDs, DVDs.

Solid-State Storage

Uses flash memory with no moving parts. Faster and more reliable. Examples: SSDs, USB drives.

Hard Disk Drive (HDD)

An HDD stores data using spinning disks called platters. Data is stored magnetically and accessed by read/write heads.

Optical Discs

Data is stored as pits and lands on the surface of the disc. A laser reads this data.

Choosing the Right Storage Device

Quick Quiz

Which storage type has no moving parts?