Types of storage devices

A storage device implies a computing hardware used to store information, port or extract data either permanently or temporarily. Other terms for storage devices are storage medium or storage media.It comes in different shapes and sizes depending on the needs and functionalities.

The most important thing we look for is the amount of data a storage device can hold along with a convenient size ,easy handling and good performance. 

TYPES OF STORAGE DEVICE

1.  Primary Storage Device-

• A primary storage device that stores memory for short periods of time while a device is running. Primary memory is computer memory that is accessed directly by the processor. 

• A primary storage device may also be known as internal memory, main memory, main storage, and primary memory.

• Primary storage devices store a copy of all the information and data currently or currently in use which can be required further. 

• It is either volatile or non-volatile in nature.

• volatile means as the device gets turned off or power gets cut off the memory stored gets erased. Example is Ram. 

• Whereas non-volatile memory remains even after the device is off.Example is ROM. 

Examples of Primary storage devices-

• RAM-It is a form of memory that can be read and changed in any order, typically used to store working data and machine code.A random-access memory device allows data items to be read or written in almost the same amount of time irrespective of the physical location of data inside the memory.
• Random-access memory takes the form of integrated circuit (IC) chips with MOS (metal-oxide-semiconductor) memory cells. 
• The two widely used forms of modern RAM are static RAM (SRAM) and dynamic RAM (DRAM). 

• ROM- It is a type of non-volatile memory used in computers and other electronic devices. Data stored in ROM cannot be electronically modified after the manufacture of the memory device. Read-only memory is useful for storing software that is rarely changed during the life of the system, also known as firmware. Software applications (like video games) for programmable devices can be distributed as plug-in cartridges containing read-only memory.

• Cache Memory-Cache memory temporarily stores information, data and programs that are commonly used. It has speed access with a central processing unit as it is directly connected to it. Infrequently used data and programs are stored here.cache memory is volatile . Deleting cache files can help you to free up space and increase Android internal storage. 

• Cloud -Cloud storage is a cloud computing model that stores data on the Internet through a cloud computing provider who manages and operates data storage as a service. It's delivered on demand. Cloud is rather new in primary storage device.

2. Secondary storage devices-

• secondary storage devices which work along primary storage devices as an additional storage. 

• It is non volatile in nature. This means that it stores data permanently. 

• It is also known as auxiliary storage device,external storage,backup storage. 

• It is chiefly used as backup data, long-term archiving of data that is not frequently accessed, and storage of non-critical data in lower-performing, less expensive drives, which is useful in future. 

• The data stored in secondary storage devices is secure from hackers as it can't be accessed directly unless they are physically present. 

• A secondary storage device has large capacity. It can store a huge amount of data inside it's small size. 

• It is cheaper than a primary storage device. 

• It's speed is less than that of a primary storage device but it can retrieve old data. 

Examples of secondary storage devices-

• Hard Disk - hard disk drive [HDD], commonly referred to as a hard drive, hard disk or fixed disk drive. It is a non-volatile secondary storage device which stores digitally encoded data on rapidly rotating platters with magnetic surfaces. 

• The hard disk is an electromechanical device. The hard disk is also known as Winchester disk. HDDs record data by magnetizing a ferromagnetic material directionally to represent either a “0” or “1” binary digit. They read the data by detecting the magnetization of the material.

• Magnetic disk: Magnetic disk is another type of secondary storage device known as random (direct) access as it permits direct accessing of data. An individual disk is a circular metal plate coated on both sides by ferrous oxide material.

Secondary storage devices also refer to removable storage media such as -

• Usb flash drive, CDs, DVDs because they need to be physically present to retrieve data and are often used to store backup files. 

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