/ˈsɑːtə/ or /ˈsætə/
n. “A computer bus interface that connects storage devices like hard drives and SSDs to a motherboard.”
SATA, short for Serial Advanced Technology Attachment, is a high-speed interface standard used to connect storage devices such as HDDs, SSDs, and optical drives to a computer’s motherboard. SATA replaced the older parallel ATA (PATA) standard, providing faster data transfer, thinner cables, and improved efficiency.
SATA supports hot-swapping, meaning drives can be connected or removed while the system is running, depending on the operating system. Modern SATA versions support data transfer rates ranging from 1.5 Gb/s (SATA I) to 6 Gb/s (SATA III).
Key characteristics of SATA include:
- Serial Interface: Uses a single pair of wires for data transfer, reducing cable complexity compared to PATA.
- Hot-Swappable: Certain drives can be added or removed without powering down the system.
- High-Speed Transfers: Supports up to 6 Gb/s in SATA III.
- Backward Compatibility: Newer SATA versions support older drives and controllers.
- Wide Adoption: Common in desktops, laptops, and enterprise storage devices.
Conceptual example of SATA usage:
// SATA workflow
Connect SSD to motherboard via SATA cable
System recognizes drive
Read/write data between SSD and system memory via SATA interfaceConceptually, SATA acts as a high-speed highway connecting storage devices to the motherboard, enabling the CPU and other components to quickly read and write data to disks.