Secondary storage

Secondary storage, sometimes referred to as auxiliary storage, is non-volatile computer storage used to store data after primary storage, usually Random Access Memory (RAM), is full. Secondary storage devices provide an additional layer of data protection by increasing capacity where primary storage does not provide enough space to store necessary information. Types of secondary storage include hard disk drives, optical storage devices, and magnetic tapes.

Secondary storage is important for helping a computer store large volumes of data including documents, music, images and videos. This data is stored outside the main computer memory, hence the terminology “secondary” storage. It can also be used to back up or preserve data in the event of a primary storage failure.

Hard disk drives are the most commonly used type of secondary storage. It is used to store data and is typically found on the motherboards of computers and systems. Internal hard disk drives consist of a series of metal platters that are coated with a magnetic material. Data is stored on these platters using magnetism. Data is read from and written to the drive by an arm that can move across the platters.

Optical storage devices are collections of optical discs that are used to store data, such as CDs and DVDs. The discs are inscribed with data using a laser and can store up to several gigabytes of data. Data is read from and written to optical discs by an optical drive.

Finally, magnetic tapes are used to store data on a series of magnetic strips. Data is read from and written to the tape drive by a series of heads. Tapes are rarely used in today’s computing environment, as they are slow and costly to maintain.

Secondary storage is an important component of any computer system. It allows users to store large volumes of data and to back up primary storage in the event of a disaster. It is also important for the long-term preservation of data and is often used in tandem with cloud storage. The choice of secondary storage device depends on the user’s requirements and system capabilities.