/ˌeɪtʃ-diː-ˈdiː/
n. “The traditional spinning disk that stores your data magnetically.”
HDD, short for Hard Disk Drive, is a type of data storage device that uses rotating magnetic disks (platters) to store and retrieve digital information. It has been the standard for decades, providing large storage capacities at relatively low cost, but it is slower and more fragile than SSD storage because it relies on mechanical components.
Key characteristics of HDD include:
- Magnetic Storage: Data is stored on spinning platters coated with magnetic material.
- Mechanical Components: Includes spinning disks and a moving read/write head.
- Capacity: Often offers larger storage at a lower cost per gigabyte than SSDs.
- Speed: Access times and data transfer rates are slower due to mechanical movement.
- Durability: More susceptible to physical shock, vibration, and wear over time.
A conceptual example of HDD usage:
# Viewing HDD devices on Linux
lsblk -o NAME,ROTA,TYPE,SIZE,MOUNTPOINT
# ROTA=1 indicates a rotational device (HDD)
NAME ROTA TYPE SIZE MOUNTPOINT
sdb 1 disk 2T /dataConceptually, HDD is like a record player: data is read and written by spinning disks and moving heads, which takes time but can store a lot of music (or files) inexpensively.
In essence, HDD remains a reliable, cost-effective solution for bulk storage, archival, and applications where ultra-fast access is less critical than capacity and price.