Storage devices are any type of hardware that is capable of storing and

retrieving data. Most often these devices come in the form of hard drives or
optical discs.
There are two different types of storage devices:
Primary Storage Devices: Primary storage, such as RAM, is used by
computer systems to temporarily store and retrieve data Generally
smaller in size, are designed to hold data temporarily and are internal
to the computer. They have the fastest data access speed, and
include RAM and cache memory.
Secondary Storage Devices: Secondary storage devices, such as
hard drives, offer a more permanent solution. Some electronic
devices use flash memory cards as storage devices as well.
Generally storage devices can be removed from the computer or
gadget and kept separately for backup purposes. These usually have
large storage capacity, and they store data permanently. Secondary
memory is also known as secondary storage.
Examples of computer storage
1. Magnetic storage devices
Today, magnetic storage is one of the most common types of storage
used with computers and is the technology that many computer hard drives
use.
EX:-Floppy diskette, Hard drive, Magnetic strip, Super Disk, Tape cassette,
Zip diskette
2. Optical storage devices
Another common storage is optical storage, which uses lasers and lights as
its method of reading and writing data & that can read CD-ROMs or
other optical discs, such as DVDs and Blu-ray discs.
EX:- Blu-Ray disc, CD-ROM disc, CD-R and CD-RW disc, DVD-R, DVD+R,
DVD-RW, and DVD+RW disc
1. A CD-ROM is
a
pre-pressed
optical compact
disc which
contains data. which stands for "Compact Disc Read-Only Memory".
Computers can read CD-ROMs, but cannot write to CD-ROMs which
are not writable or erasable.
2. CD-RW (Compact
DiscReWritable)
is
a digital optical
disc storage format. A CD-RW disc is a compact disc that can be

written, read arbitrarily many times, erased, and written again. The
technology was introduced in 1997.

3. CD-R (Compact Disc-Recordable) is a digital optical disc storage

format. A CD-R disc is a compact disc that can be written once and read
arbitrarily many times.
4. DVD:The medium can store any kind of digital data and is widely
used for software and other computer files as well as video
programs watched using DVD players. DVDs offer higher storage
capacity than compact discs while having the same dimensions.
3. Flash memory devices
A USB flash drive, also commonly known as a USB drive, USB stick, USB
key, USB, and a variety of other names, is a data storage device that
includes flash memory with an integrated USB interface. USB flash drives
are typically removable and rewritable, and physically much smaller than
an optical disc. Most weigh less than 30 grams .
Flash memory has started to replace magnetic media as it becomes
cheaper as it is the more efficient and reliable solution.
EX: Jump drive or flash drive, Memory card, Memory stick, SSD
Flash memory : Flash memory (1) See also Flash (multimedia authoring
and
playback
system).
(2)The
most
popular
non-volatile,
rewritable memory chip. Extremely durable, flash memory is used in just
about every electronic device, including USB drives, cameras, i-Pods,
smart phones, tablets, computers and servers.