Data storage device

In computing, a data storage device—as the name implies—is a device for storing data. It usually refers to permanent storage (non-volatile), that is, the data will remain stored when power is removed from the device; unlike RAM. Recording can be done mechanically, magnetically, or optically.

A typical way to classify data storage media is to consider its shape and type of movement (or non-movement) relative to the read/write device(s) of the storage apparatus. The following is a list of storage media, roughly sorted descending from modern to older/archaic media.

• Flash memory/memory card (solid state semiconductor memory)
  • Compact Flash I and II
  • SONY Memory stick (Std/Duo/Pro/MagicGate versions)
  • Secure Digital
  • MMC
  • USB flash disk (a.k.a. "thumb drive")

• Magnetic bubble memory

• Disk storage (flat, round, circularly spinning object)
  • Optical disc like CD-ROM, CD-R, CD-RW, DVD-ROM, DVD-R, DVD-RW, DVD+R, DVD+RW, DVD-RAM, Blue Ray
  • Hard disk (magnetic)
  • Floppy disk, ZIP disk (removable) (magnetic)
  • Gramophone record (used for distributing some 1980s home computer programs) (mechanical)

• Tape storage (long, thin, flexible, linearly moving bands)
  • Magnetic tape (a tape passing one or more read/write/erase heads)
  • Paper tape (mechanical)

• Paper card storage
  • Punched card (mechanical)

As of 2003, it is expected that in the future, miniaturization might lead to the invention of storage devices that store bits using one single atom each (Bekenstein, 2003).

References

• Bekenstein, Jacob D. (2003, August). Information in the holographic universe. Scientific American. Retrieved from http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?articleID=000AF072-4891-1F0A-97AE80A84189EEDF

See also

• Computer storage