Hard disk drive platterA hard disk drive platter or hard disk is the circular magnetic disk on which digital data is stored in a hard disk drive. The rigid nature of the platters is what gives them their name (as opposed to the flexible materials which are used to make floppy disks). Hard drives typically have several platters which are mounted on the same spindle. A platter can store information on both sides, typically requiring two recording heads per platter, one per surface.
Magnetic storageMagnetic storage or magnetic recording is the storage of data on a magnetized medium. Magnetic storage uses different patterns of magnetisation in a magnetizable material to store data and is a form of non-volatile memory. The information is accessed using one or more read/write heads. Magnetic storage media, primarily hard disks, are widely used to store computer data as well as audio and video signals.
Block (data storage)In computing (specifically data transmission and data storage), a block, sometimes called a physical record, is a sequence of bytes or bits, usually containing some whole number of records, having a fixed length; a block size. Data thus structured are said to be blocked. The process of putting data into blocks is called blocking, while deblocking is the process of extracting data from blocks.
Disk enclosureA disk enclosure or desktop hard drive is a specialized casing designed to hold and power hard disk drives or solid-state drives while providing a mechanism to allow them to communicate to one or more separate computers. Drive enclosures provide power to the drives therein and convert the data sent across their native data bus into a format usable by an external connection on the computer to which it is connected.
Computer data storageComputer data storage or digital data storage is the retention of digital data via technology consisting of computer components and recording media. Digital data storage is a core function and fundamental component of computers. Generally, the faster and volatile storage components are referred to as "memory", while slower persistent components are referred to as "storage".
Disk read-and-write headA disk read-and-write head is the small part of a disk drive that moves above the disk platter and transforms the platter's magnetic field into electric current (reads the disk) or, vice versa, transforms electric current into magnetic field (writes the disk). The heads have gone through a number of changes over the years. In a hard drive, the heads fly above the disk surface with clearance of as little as 3 nanometres.
Non-volatile memoryNon-volatile memory (NVM) or non-volatile storage is a type of computer memory that can retain stored information even after power is removed. In contrast, volatile memory needs constant power in order to retain data.ActuatorAn actuator is a component of a machine that produces force, torque, or displacement, when an electrical, pneumatic or hydraulic input is supplied to it in a system (called an actuating system). The effect is usually produced in a controlled way. An actuator translates a stimulus such as an input signal into the required form of mechanical energy. It is a type of transducer. In simple terms, it is a "mover".
IBMInternational Business Machines Corporation, doing business asIBM (nicknamed Big Blue), is an American multinationaltechnology company headquartered in Armonk, New York, and present in over 175 countries. It is a publicly traded company and one of the 30 companies in the Dow Jones Industrial Average.
Digital dataDigital data or digital information, in information theory and information systems, is data or information represented as a string of discrete symbols, each of which can take on one of only a finite number of values from some alphabet, such as letters or digits. An example is a text document, which consists of a string of alphanumeric characters.
Disk packDisk packs and disk cartridges were early forms of removable media for computer data storage, introduced in the 1960s.Random accessRandom access (also called direct access) is the ability to access an arbitrary element of a sequence in equal time or any datum from a population of addressable elements roughly as easily and efficiently as any other, no matter how many elements may be in the set. In computer science it is typically contrasted to sequential access which requires data to be retrieved in the order it was stored.*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.