Module 3~8 min
Basic Data Storage
Computers store data on physical devices that keep it safe even when the power is off.
What You'll Learn
- The difference between hard drives and SSDs
- What storage capacity means
- Why backups matter
Hard Drives and SSDs
A hard disk drive (HDD) stores data on spinning magnetic disks. A solid state drive (SSD) stores data on flash memory chips with no moving parts, which generally makes it faster and more durable.
Backups Matter
Storage devices can fail unexpectedly, so it's important to keep copies of important files somewhere else as well.
Example
Keeping a copy of important photos on an external drive or a cloud storage service protects them even if your laptop is lost, damaged, or stolen.
Key Concepts
Hard DriveSSDBackup
Key Takeaways
- HDDs and SSDs are two common types of storage devices
- SSDs are generally faster and have no moving parts
- Backing up important files protects against data loss
Knowledge Check
Why are backups important?