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Memory and storage - Coggle Diagram
Memory and storage
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Secondary storage is non-volatile, long-term storage. Without secondary storage all programs and data would be lost the moment the computer is switched off.
Solid state
Solid state storage is a special type of storage made from silicon microchips. It can be written to and overwritten like RAM. However, unlike RAM, it is non-volatile, which means that when the computer's power is switched off, solid state storage will retain its contents.
Solid state is also used as external secondary storage, for example in USB memory sticks and solid state drives.
One of the major benefits of solid state storage is that it has no moving parts. Because of this, it is more portable, and produces less heat compared to traditional magnetic storage devices. Less heat means that components last longer.
Solid state storage is also faster that traditional hard disk drives because the data is stored electronically in silicon chips called cells. Within the cells, the binary data is stored by holding an electrical current in a transistor with an on/off mode. Unlike RAM which uses a similar technique, solid state storage retains this even when the power is switched off by using a technology known as flash memory.
Solid state is an ideal storage medium for many devices such as tablets, smartphones and digital cameras.
Magnetic devices
Magnetic devices such as hard disks use magnetic fields to magnetise tiny individual sections of a metal spinning disk.