{"id":336970,"date":"2024-10-21T12:00:57","date_gmt":"2024-10-21T12:00:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/?post_type=definition&#038;p=336970"},"modified":"2024-10-21T12:00:57","modified_gmt":"2024-10-21T12:00:57","slug":"storage","status":"publish","type":"definition","link":"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/definition\/storage","title":{"rendered":"Storage"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2><span id=\"what_is_storage\">What is Storage?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Storage is a process through which <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/definition\/24872\/digital-data\">digital data<\/a> is saved within a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/definition\/1119\/storage-device\">data storage device<\/a> by means of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/definition\/6597\/computing\">computing<\/a> technology. Storage is a mechanism that enables a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/definition\/4607\/computer\">computer<\/a> to retain <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/definition\/807\/data\">data<\/a>, either temporarily or permanently.<\/p>\n<p>Storage may also be referred to as <i>computer data storage<\/i> or <i>electronic data storage<\/i>.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Storage.jpg\" alt=\"What is Storage? \" width=\"1200\" height=\"625\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-336997\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Storage.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Storage-300x156.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Storage-1024x534.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Storage-768x400.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Storage-1536x800.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Storage-1200x625.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Storage-1980x1032.jpg 1980w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><div class=\"su-note\"  style=\"border-color:#e5e54c;border-radius:\u201c3\u201dpx;-moz-border-radius:\u201c3\u201dpx;-webkit-border-radius:\u201c3\u201dpx;\"><div class=\"su-note-inner su-u-clearfix su-u-trim\" style=\"background-color:#FFFF66;border-color:#ffffff;color:#333333;border-radius:\u201c3\u201dpx;-moz-border-radius:\u201c3\u201dpx;-webkit-border-radius:\u201c3\u201dpx;\">\n<h2><span id=\"key_takeaways\">Key Takeaways<\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Storage saves digital data on a device, allowing it to be kept temporarily or permanently.<\/li>\n<li>After a command, data is stored and organized by the operating system, with storage controllers managing data transfer and keeping it secure.<\/li>\n<li>Storage devices include hard drives, flash drives, and cloud systems managed by systems like NAS, SAN, and DAS.<\/li>\n<li>RAM is used for short-term tasks and is cleared when turned off, while storage keeps data permanently.<\/li>\n<li>Data security involves encryption, access control, and virus protection to stop unauthorized access or damage.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"p1\"><\/div><\/div>\n<div>\n    <section class=\"toc-sticky w-100 bg-white \">\n        <div class=\"toc-sticky__container container\">\n            <div class=\"toc-sticky__open d-flex align-items-end\" data-bs-toggle=\"collapse\"\n                 aria-controls=\"multiCollapse1\"\n                 data-bs-target=\"#multiCollapse1\">\n                <button\n                        class=\"btn btn-primary collapse-action-btn p-1 rounded-circle\"\n                        type=\"button\"\n                >\n                    <i class=\"icon-chevron-up\"><\/i>\n                <\/button>\n                <span id=\"toc-current-title\" class=\"d-flex align-items-center\">\n                    Table of Contents\n                <\/span>\n                <span class=\"toc-main-title-permanent\">Table of Contents<\/span>\n            <\/div>\n            <div\n                    class=\"collapse my-3\"\n                    id=\"multiCollapse1\"\n            >\n                <ol class=\"StepProgress\">\n                                                                        <li class=\"StepProgress-item current\">\n                                                <div class=\"StepProgress-item__group\">\n                            <a data-id=\"what_is_storage\"\n                               onclick=handleScrollToTitle(\"what_is_storage\")\n                               class=\"StepProgress-item__link\" data-level=\"2\">What is Storage?<\/a>\n                                                    <\/div>\n                                                <\/li>\n                                                                        <li class=\"StepProgress-item\">\n                                                <div class=\"StepProgress-item__group\">\n                            <a data-id=\"key_takeaways\"\n                               onclick=handleScrollToTitle(\"key_takeaways\")\n                               class=\"StepProgress-item__link\" data-level=\"2\">Key Takeaways<\/a>\n                                                    <\/div>\n                                                <\/li>\n                                                                        <li class=\"StepProgress-item\">\n                                                <div class=\"StepProgress-item__group\">\n                            <a data-id=\"how_data_storage_works\"\n                               onclick=handleScrollToTitle(\"how_data_storage_works\")\n                               class=\"StepProgress-item__link\" data-level=\"2\">How Data Storage Works<\/a>\n                                                    <\/div>\n                                                <\/li>\n                                                                        <li class=\"StepProgress-item\">\n                                                <div class=\"StepProgress-item__group\">\n                            <a data-id=\"types_of_storage_devices_and_systems\"\n                               onclick=handleScrollToTitle(\"types_of_storage_devices_and_systems\")\n                               class=\"StepProgress-item__link\" data-level=\"2\">Types of Storage Devices and Systems<\/a>\n                                                    <\/div>\n                                                <\/li>\n                                                                        <li class=\"StepProgress-item\">\n                                                <div class=\"StepProgress-item__group\">\n                            <a data-id=\"how_to_measure_storage_amounts\"\n                               onclick=handleScrollToTitle(\"how_to_measure_storage_amounts\")\n                               class=\"StepProgress-item__link\" data-level=\"2\">How to Measure Storage Amounts<\/a>\n                                                    <\/div>\n                                                <\/li>\n                                                                        <li class=\"StepProgress-item\">\n                                                <div class=\"StepProgress-item__group\">\n                            <a data-id=\"common_storage_devices_configurations\"\n                               onclick=handleScrollToTitle(\"common_storage_devices_configurations\")\n                               class=\"StepProgress-item__link\" data-level=\"2\">Common Storage Devices Configurations<\/a>\n                                                    <\/div>\n                                                <\/li>\n                                                                        <li class=\"StepProgress-item\">\n                                                <div class=\"StepProgress-item__group\">\n                            <a data-id=\"storage_vs_ram\"\n                               onclick=handleScrollToTitle(\"storage_vs_ram\")\n                               class=\"StepProgress-item__link\" data-level=\"2\">Storage vs. RAM<\/a>\n                                                    <\/div>\n                                                <\/li>\n                                                                        <li class=\"StepProgress-item\">\n                                                <div class=\"StepProgress-item__group\">\n                            <a data-id=\"storage_hierarchy\"\n                               onclick=handleScrollToTitle(\"storage_hierarchy\")\n                               class=\"StepProgress-item__link\" data-level=\"2\">Storage Hierarchy<\/a>\n                                                    <\/div>\n                                                <\/li>\n                                                                        <li class=\"StepProgress-item\">\n                                                <div class=\"StepProgress-item__group\">\n                            <a data-id=\"data_storage_security\"\n                               onclick=handleScrollToTitle(\"data_storage_security\")\n                               class=\"StepProgress-item__link\" data-level=\"2\">Data Storage Security<\/a>\n                                                    <\/div>\n                                                <\/li>\n                                                                        <li class=\"StepProgress-item\">\n                                                <div class=\"StepProgress-item__group\">\n                            <a data-id=\"the_bottom_line\"\n                               onclick=handleScrollToTitle(\"the_bottom_line\")\n                               class=\"StepProgress-item__link\" data-level=\"2\">The Bottom Line<\/a>\n                                                    <\/div>\n                                                <\/li>\n                                                                        <li class=\"StepProgress-item\">\n                                                <div class=\"StepProgress-item__group\">\n                            <a data-id=\"faqs\"\n                               onclick=handleScrollToTitle(\"faqs\")\n                               class=\"StepProgress-item__link\" data-level=\"2\">FAQs<\/a>\n                                                    <\/div>\n                                                <\/li>\n                                    <\/ol>\n                <div class=\"toc-sticky__container__disperse\"><\/div>\n                <div class=\"toc-sticky__btn-top justify-content-center\">\n                    <button class=\"btn btn-link d-flex align-items-center\" onclick={btnTop()}><p>Show Full Guide<\/p><img decoding=\"async\"\n                                src=\"\/wp-content\/plugins\/table-of-contents\/assets\/images\/arrow-up-circle.svg\"\n                                alt=\"arrow-up-circle\">\n                    <\/button>\n                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/section>\n    <div class=\"toc-sticky-list\">\n        <div class=\"toc-sticky__container container\">\n            <div class=\"toc-sticky__open d-flex align-items-end\" data-bs-toggle=\"collapse\" aria-controls=\"multiCollapse2\" data-bs-target=\"#multiCollapse2\">\n                <button class=\"btn btn-primary collapse-action-btn p-1 rounded-circle\"\n                        type=\"button\">\n                    <i class=\"icon-chevron-up up\"><\/i>\n                <\/button>\n                <span id=\"toc-current-title\" class=\"d-flex align-items-center\">\n                    Table of Contents\n                <\/span>\n            <\/div>\n            <div  class=\"collapse my-3\" id=\"multiCollapse2\">\n                <ol class=\"StepProgress\">\n                    \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t                                                     <li class=\"StepProgress-item current \">\n                                                    <div class=\"StepProgress-item__group\">\n                                <a data-id=\"what_is_storage\"\n                                   onclick=handleScrollToTitle(\"what_is_storage\")\n                                   class=\"StepProgress-item__link\"\n                                   data-level=\"2\">What is Storage?<\/a>\n                                                            <\/div>\n                                                    <\/li>\n                    \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t                                                     <li class=\"StepProgress-item \">\n                                                    <div class=\"StepProgress-item__group\">\n                                <a data-id=\"key_takeaways\"\n                                   onclick=handleScrollToTitle(\"key_takeaways\")\n                                   class=\"StepProgress-item__link\"\n                                   data-level=\"2\">Key Takeaways<\/a>\n                                                            <\/div>\n                                                    <\/li>\n                    \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t                                                     <li class=\"StepProgress-item \">\n                                                    <div class=\"StepProgress-item__group\">\n                                <a data-id=\"how_data_storage_works\"\n                                   onclick=handleScrollToTitle(\"how_data_storage_works\")\n                                   class=\"StepProgress-item__link\"\n                                   data-level=\"2\">How Data Storage Works<\/a>\n                                                            <\/div>\n                                                    <\/li>\n                    \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t <span class=\"show_moretoc\">Show Full Guide<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t\t  \t\t\t\t\t                                                      <li class=\"StepProgress-item ms_hidetoc\">\n                                                    <div class=\"StepProgress-item__group\">\n                                <a data-id=\"types_of_storage_devices_and_systems\"\n                                   onclick=handleScrollToTitle(\"types_of_storage_devices_and_systems\")\n                                   class=\"StepProgress-item__link\"\n                                   data-level=\"2\">Types of Storage Devices and Systems<\/a>\n                                                            <\/div>\n                                                    <\/li>\n                    \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t\t  \t\t\t\t\t                                                      <li class=\"StepProgress-item ms_hidetoc\">\n                                                    <div class=\"StepProgress-item__group\">\n                                <a data-id=\"how_to_measure_storage_amounts\"\n                                   onclick=handleScrollToTitle(\"how_to_measure_storage_amounts\")\n                                   class=\"StepProgress-item__link\"\n                                   data-level=\"2\">How to Measure Storage Amounts<\/a>\n                                                            <\/div>\n                                                    <\/li>\n                    \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t\t  \t\t\t\t\t                                                      <li class=\"StepProgress-item ms_hidetoc\">\n                                                    <div class=\"StepProgress-item__group\">\n                                <a data-id=\"common_storage_devices_configurations\"\n                                   onclick=handleScrollToTitle(\"common_storage_devices_configurations\")\n                                   class=\"StepProgress-item__link\"\n                                   data-level=\"2\">Common Storage Devices Configurations<\/a>\n                                                            <\/div>\n                                                    <\/li>\n                    \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t\t  \t\t\t\t\t                                                      <li class=\"StepProgress-item ms_hidetoc\">\n                                                    <div class=\"StepProgress-item__group\">\n                                <a data-id=\"storage_vs_ram\"\n                                   onclick=handleScrollToTitle(\"storage_vs_ram\")\n                                   class=\"StepProgress-item__link\"\n                                   data-level=\"2\">Storage vs. RAM<\/a>\n                                                            <\/div>\n                                                    <\/li>\n                    \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t\t  \t\t\t\t\t                                                      <li class=\"StepProgress-item ms_hidetoc\">\n                                                    <div class=\"StepProgress-item__group\">\n                                <a data-id=\"storage_hierarchy\"\n                                   onclick=handleScrollToTitle(\"storage_hierarchy\")\n                                   class=\"StepProgress-item__link\"\n                                   data-level=\"2\">Storage Hierarchy<\/a>\n                                                            <\/div>\n                                                    <\/li>\n                    \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t\t  \t\t\t\t\t                                                      <li class=\"StepProgress-item ms_hidetoc\">\n                                                    <div class=\"StepProgress-item__group\">\n                                <a data-id=\"data_storage_security\"\n                                   onclick=handleScrollToTitle(\"data_storage_security\")\n                                   class=\"StepProgress-item__link\"\n                                   data-level=\"2\">Data Storage Security<\/a>\n                                                            <\/div>\n                                                    <\/li>\n                    \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t\t  \t\t\t\t\t                                                      <li class=\"StepProgress-item ms_hidetoc\">\n                                                    <div class=\"StepProgress-item__group\">\n                                <a data-id=\"the_bottom_line\"\n                                   onclick=handleScrollToTitle(\"the_bottom_line\")\n                                   class=\"StepProgress-item__link\"\n                                   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pageLegendCollapse);\n\tjQuery('span.show_moretoc').click(function(){\n\t\tjQuery('span.show_moretoc').hide();\n\t   jQuery('.ms_hidetoc').show();\n\t});\n    });\n\n    \/\/ When the user clicks on the button, scroll to the top of the document\n    function btnTop() {\n        const pageLegend = document.querySelector('#multiCollapse1');\n        document.querySelector('html').classList.remove('overflow-hidden');\n        pageLegend.classList.remove('overflow-auto');\n        pageLegend.style.height = 'auto';\n        window.scrollTo({\n            top: 0,\n            behavior: 'smooth'\n        });\n    }\n\n    const handleScrollToTitle = (id) => {\n        const el = document.getElementById(id);\n        const headerHeightDifference = window.innerWidth < 992 ? -30 : -15;\n        window.scrollTo({\n            top: el.offsetTop - 60 - headerHeightDifference - 10,\n        });\n    }\n<\/script>\n\n<h2><span id=\"how_data_storage_works\">How Data Storage Works<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>After a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/definition\/4356\/software\">software<\/a> command is issued by the user, digital data is stored inside the appropriate device. The computer&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/definition\/3515\/operating-system-os\">operating system<\/a> (OS) helps organize this data into files and folders so it can be found easily later, with file systems like <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/definition\/24482\/new-technology-file-system-ntfs\">NTFS<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/definition\/1830\/file-allocation-table-32-fat32\">FAT32<\/a> deciding how data is stored and retrieved, keeping everything organized.<\/p>\n<p>Storage controllers are crucial because they manage how the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/definition\/28254\/processor\">processor<\/a> communicates with storage devices. They make sure data is transferred smoothly and correctly, handling both the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/definition\/855\/readwrite-rw\">reading and writing of data<\/a>. These controllers also check for errors and fix them to maintain data integrity.<\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"types_of_storage_devices_and_systems\">Types of Storage Devices and Systems<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Storage devices include a broad range of different <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/definition\/8210\/magnetic-disk\">magnetic<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/definition\/2620\/optical-disk\">optical<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/definition\/13720\/flash-storage\">flash<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/definition\/10952\/virtual-drive\">virtual drives<\/a>. They can be either <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/definition\/5296\/internal-hard-drive\">internal<\/a> (if they&#8217;re part of the computer&#8217;s hardware), <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/definition\/7116\/external-storage\">external<\/a> (if they are installed outside the computer), or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/definition\/13731\/removable-media\">removable<\/a> (if they can be plugged in and removed without opening the computer).<\/p>\n<p>Common storage devices that are in use or have been used in the past include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/definition\/5288\/hard-disk-drive\">Hard disks<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/definition\/2322\/usb-flash-drive\">Flash drives<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/definition\/24861\/floppy-disk-drive-fdd\">Floppy disks<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/definition\/9642\/tape-backup\">Tape drives<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/definition\/2606\/compact-disc-read-only-memory-cd-rom\">CD-ROM disks<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/definition\/2600\/blu-ray-disk-bd\">Blu-ray disks<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/definition\/2788\/memory-card\">Memory cards<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/definition\/26524\/cloud-drive\">Cloud drives<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>In addition to individual devices, storage systems are part of the infrastructure used to manage and store data, and these systems are also offered by data storage vendors.<\/p>\n<p>These systems include:<br \/>\n<div class=\"su-accordion su-u-trim\">\n<div class=\"su-spoiler su-spoiler-style-fancy su-spoiler-icon-plus\" data-scroll-offset=\"0\" data-anchor-in-url=\"no\"><div class=\"su-spoiler-title\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\"><span class=\"su-spoiler-icon\"><\/span><strong>Direct-attached storage (DAS)<\/strong><\/div><div class=\"su-spoiler-content su-u-clearfix su-u-trim\">\nThis is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/definition\/1073\/direct-attached-storage-das\">storage directly connected to a computer<\/a> without using a network. Examples include internal hard drives or external USB drives.<br \/>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<div class=\"su-spoiler su-spoiler-style-fancy su-spoiler-icon-plus su-spoiler-closed\" data-scroll-offset=\"0\" data-anchor-in-url=\"no\"><div class=\"su-spoiler-title\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\"><span class=\"su-spoiler-icon\"><\/span><strong>Network-attached storage (NAS)<\/strong><\/div><div class=\"su-spoiler-content su-u-clearfix su-u-trim\">\nThis system connects to a network, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/definition\/26197\/network-attached-storage-nas\">allowing multiple devices to access the same storage<\/a>.<br \/>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<div class=\"su-spoiler su-spoiler-style-fancy su-spoiler-icon-plus su-spoiler-closed\" data-scroll-offset=\"0\" data-anchor-in-url=\"no\"><div class=\"su-spoiler-title\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\"><span class=\"su-spoiler-icon\"><\/span><strong>Storage area network (SAN)<\/strong><\/div><div class=\"su-spoiler-content su-u-clearfix su-u-trim\">\nA <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/definition\/1116\/storage-area-network-san\">specialized network<\/a> that provides access to large amounts of storage, often used by big companies.<br \/>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<div class=\"su-spoiler su-spoiler-style-fancy su-spoiler-icon-plus su-spoiler-closed\" data-scroll-offset=\"0\" data-anchor-in-url=\"no\"><div class=\"su-spoiler-title\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\"><span class=\"su-spoiler-icon\"><\/span><strong>Cloud storage<\/strong><\/div><div class=\"su-spoiler-content su-u-clearfix su-u-trim\">\nThis is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/definition\/26535\/cloud-storage\">online storage<\/a> provided by third-party <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/hosting\/best-cloud-hosting-providers\">cloud hosting providers<\/a>, where data can be accessed from anywhere with an Internet connection.<br \/>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2><span id=\"how_to_measure_storage_amounts\">How to Measure Storage Amounts<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Data size is measured in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/definition\/23954\/bit\">bits<\/a> (the smallest unit of measure of computer memory), but larger amounts are typically measured in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/definition\/23955\/byte\">bytes<\/a>, where 1 byte equals 8 bits.<\/p>\n<p>From there, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/all-bytes-in-order\">storage is measured in increasing units<\/a> such as:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Kilobyte (KB): <\/strong>1,024 bytes.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Megabyte (MB): <\/strong>1,024 kilobytes.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Gigabyte (GB):<\/strong> 1,024 megabytes.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Terabyte (TB): <\/strong>1,024 gigabytes.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Petabyte (PB):<\/strong> 1,024 terabytes, commonly used in large-scale data centers.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Storage capabilities have increased significantly in the last few decades, jumping up from the old <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/definition\/27635\/525-inch-floppy-disk\">5.25-inch disks<\/a> of the 1980s, which held 360 kilobytes, to the modern hard drives, which can hold several terabytes. Today, modern data storage vendors provide flexible solutions that help companies increase their storage capacity depending on how much data they need to store.<\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"common_storage_devices_configurations\">Common Storage Devices Configurations<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Storage configurations refer to how storage devices are set up within a system to meet specific needs such as speed, data protection, or storage space. Different configurations are chosen based on the system&#8217;s requirements.<\/p>\n<p>Common configurations include:<\/p>\n<div class=\"su-tabs su-tabs-style-default su-tabs-mobile-stack su-tabs-vertical\" data-active=\"1\" data-scroll-offset=\"0\" data-anchor-in-url=\"no\"><div class=\"su-tabs-nav\"><span class=\"\" data-url=\"\" data-target=\"blank\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\"><strong>RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Disks)<\/strong><\/span><span class=\"\" data-url=\"\" data-target=\"blank\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\"><strong>JBOD (Just a Bunch of Disks)<\/strong><\/span><span class=\"\" data-url=\"\" data-target=\"blank\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\"><strong>Tiered storage<\/strong><\/span><span class=\"\" data-url=\"\" data-target=\"blank\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\"><strong>Hybrid cloud<\/strong><\/span><\/div><div class=\"su-tabs-panes\"><div class=\"su-tabs-pane su-u-clearfix su-u-trim\" data-title=\"&lt;strong&gt;RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Disks)&lt;\/strong&gt;\">\n<p>This is a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/definition\/24492\/redundant-array-of-independent-disks--raid\">common setup in DAS and NAS systems<\/a>. RAID combines multiple drives into one unit to improve speed, provide backup, or both. There are different types of RAID (e.g., RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 5), each offering a different balance of speed and data protection.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"su-tabs-pane su-u-clearfix su-u-trim\" data-title=\"&lt;strong&gt;JBOD (Just a Bunch of Disks)&lt;\/strong&gt;\">\n<p>In this setup, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/definition\/12875\/just-a-bunch-of-disks-jbod\">multiple hard drives are combined into a single large volume<\/a>. It doesn&#8217;t provide data protection or speed improvements, but it&#8217;s useful when more storage space is needed.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"su-tabs-pane su-u-clearfix su-u-trim\" data-title=\"&lt;strong&gt;Tiered storage&lt;\/strong&gt;\">\n<p>This setup <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/definition\/1130\/tiered-storage\">stores data in different types of storage devices<\/a>. For example, fast <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/definition\/2296\/solid-state-drive-ssd\">SSDs<\/a> can store important data, while slower HDDs store less-used data. This configuration is often used in SAN and cloud systems to balance speed and cost.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"su-tabs-pane su-u-clearfix su-u-trim\" data-title=\"&lt;strong&gt;Hybrid cloud&lt;\/strong&gt;\">\n<p>This setup mixes local storage (on-premise) with cloud storage. Important data that needs quick access is kept locally, while less important data is stored in the cloud. This offers a good balance of accessibility, performance, and storage space.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<h2><span id=\"storage_vs_ram\">Storage vs. RAM<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Storage can be classified into <strong>two major types<\/strong>:<br \/>\n<div class=\"su-accordion su-u-trim\">\n<div class=\"su-spoiler su-spoiler-style-fancy su-spoiler-icon-plus su-spoiler-closed\" data-scroll-offset=\"0\" data-anchor-in-url=\"no\"><div class=\"su-spoiler-title\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\"><span class=\"su-spoiler-icon\"><\/span><strong>Volatile storage (RAM)<\/strong><\/div><div class=\"su-spoiler-content su-u-clearfix su-u-trim\">\nRequires a continuous supply of electricity to store\/retain data. It <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/definition\/9966\/volatile-storage\">acts as a computer&#8217;s primary storage for temporarily storing data<\/a> and handling application workloads. Examples include <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/definition\/6307\/cache-memory\">cache memory<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/definition\/24491\/random-access-memory-ram\">random access memory<\/a> (RAM).<br \/>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<div class=\"su-spoiler su-spoiler-style-fancy su-spoiler-icon-plus su-spoiler-closed\" data-scroll-offset=\"0\" data-anchor-in-url=\"no\"><div class=\"su-spoiler-title\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\"><span class=\"su-spoiler-icon\"><\/span><strong>Non-volatile storage<\/strong><\/div><div class=\"su-spoiler-content su-u-clearfix su-u-trim\">\nRetains digital data even when powered off. It is often referred to as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/definition\/15261\/non-volatile-storage-nvs\">secondary storage<\/a>, used for permanent data storage requiring I\/O operations. Examples include hard disks, USB storage, and optical media.<br \/>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\nThe key difference between the two is that <strong>memory<\/strong> (RAM) is fast and primarily used for short-term, active tasks, but it is cleared once the computer is turned off.<\/p>\n<p>In contrast, <strong>storage<\/strong> holds data permanently until it is manually deleted. Although storage is slower than RAM, it can handle significantly larger amounts of data.<\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"storage_hierarchy\">Storage Hierarchy<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/definition\/1086\/hierarchical-storage-management-hsm\">Storage hierarchy<\/a> is the process of organizing data into different levels, called tiers, based on performance, capacity, and other needs.\u00a0 Companies use tiered storage to automatically place data in the right tier.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Primary storage <\/strong>is fast and includes devices like SSDs and HDDs. It supports everyday tasks and important business operations.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Secondary storage <\/strong>is slower but can hold more data. It is used for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/definition\/1056\/backup\">backups<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/definition\/14677\/data-archiving\">archives<\/a>, and data that is not needed as often. Many businesses now also use <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/definition\/26636\/hybrid-cloud-storage\">cloud storage as part of their secondary storage to create hybrid systems<\/a> for added flexibility.<\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"data_storage_security\">Data Storage Security<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/definition\/29701\/secure-data-storage\">Data storage security<\/a> is the process of keeping data stored on devices or in the cloud safe from unauthorized access, damage, or loss. This is important for businesses because <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/definition\/13601\/data-breach\">data breaches <\/a>often <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/cost-of-a-data-breach\">happen when storage security fails<\/a>. To maintain data integrity, companies often work with data storage vendors that provide these security elements.<\/p>\n<p>Some key ways to protect data storage include:<br \/>\n<div class=\"su-list\" style=\"margin-left:0px\">\n<ul>\n<li><i class=\"sui sui-check-circle\" style=\"color:#3CB371\"><\/i> <strong>Data encryption: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/definition\/5507\/encryption\">Encrypting data<\/a> makes it unreadable to anyone who doesn&#8217;t have the right key.<\/li>\n<li><i class=\"sui sui-check-circle\" style=\"color:#3CB371\"><\/i> <strong>Access controls: <\/strong>Only <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/definition\/5831\/access-control\">authorized people should be able to access the stored data<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li><i class=\"sui sui-check-circle\" style=\"color:#3CB371\"><\/i> <strong>Virus and malware protection: <\/strong>Security software helps <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/antivirus\/best-malware-removal\">protect against harmful programs<\/a> that can damage or steal data.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<p>Physical security of storage devices, strong policies, and regular checks also play a major role in keeping data safe.<\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"the_bottom_line\">The Bottom Line<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Understanding the storage definition is important for managing and protecting digital data. From short-term memory like RAM to long-term storage like hard drives and cloud storage, each type has a specific role in modern computing. Following good security practices helps businesses prevent data breaches.<\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"faqs\">FAQs<\/span><\/h2>\n<div class=\"man_faq_sec\" itemscope itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/FAQPage\"><section class=\"ms_faq ms_card \" ><div itemscope itemprop=\"mainEntity\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Question\"><div class=\"accordionButton\"><h3 itemprop=\"name\">What is storage in simple terms?<\/h3> <\/div>\n<div class=\"accordionContent\" itemscope itemprop=\"acceptedAnswer\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Answer\" style=\"display:none;\"><p itemprop=\"text\">The storage meaning refers to the process of saving digital data on a device so it can be used later. This data can be stored temporarily or permanently, depending on the type of storage. <\/p>\r\n                <\/div><\/div><\/section>\n<section class=\"ms_faq ms_card \" ><div itemscope itemprop=\"mainEntity\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Question\"><div class=\"accordionButton\"><h3 itemprop=\"name\">What is storage in a computer?<\/h3> <\/div>\n<div class=\"accordionContent\" itemscope itemprop=\"acceptedAnswer\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Answer\" style=\"display:none;\"><p itemprop=\"text\">In a computer, storage is where data is kept for future use. It can be internal, like a hard drive, or external, like a USB stick. It holds important information like programs, files, and documents. <\/p>\r\n                <\/div><\/div><\/section>\n<section class=\"ms_faq ms_card \" ><div itemscope itemprop=\"mainEntity\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Question\"><div class=\"accordionButton\"><h3 itemprop=\"name\">What is the meaning of &#8220;in storage&#8221;?<\/h3> <\/div>\n<div class=\"accordionContent\" itemscope itemprop=\"acceptedAnswer\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Answer\" style=\"display:none;\"><p itemprop=\"text\">&#8220;In storage&#8221; means that something is being kept in a safe place until it is needed. It is stored securely for future use. <\/p>\r\n                <\/div><\/div><\/section>\n<section class=\"ms_faq ms_card \" ><div itemscope itemprop=\"mainEntity\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Question\"><div class=\"accordionButton\"><h3 itemprop=\"name\">What is an example of storage?<\/h3> <\/div>\n<div class=\"accordionContent\" itemscope itemprop=\"acceptedAnswer\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Answer\" style=\"display:none;\"><p itemprop=\"text\">A common example of storage is a hard drive inside a computer, which holds files, software, and documents. Cloud storage is another example, where data is saved online and can be accessed from different devices. <\/p>\r\n                <\/div><\/div><\/section>\n<section class=\"ms_faq ms_card \" ><div itemscope itemprop=\"mainEntity\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Question\"><div class=\"accordionButton\"><h3 itemprop=\"name\">What is iCloud storage?<\/h3> <\/div>\n<div class=\"accordionContent\" itemscope itemprop=\"acceptedAnswer\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Answer\" style=\"display:none;\"><p itemprop=\"text\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/definition\/28257\/icloud\">iCloud<\/a> storage is a service from Apple that stores data online. It allows users to save files, photos, and backups in the cloud and access them from any device using an Internet connection. <\/p>\r\n                <\/div><\/div><\/section>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>What is Storage? Storage is a process through which digital data is saved within a data storage device by means of computing technology. Storage is a mechanism that enables a computer to retain data, either temporarily or permanently. Storage may also be referred to as computer data storage or electronic data storage. How Data Storage [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":286589,"featured_media":336994,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"footnotes":""},"definitioncat":[223],"class_list":["post-336970","definition","type-definition","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","definitioncat-storage"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v23.8 (Yoast SEO v23.8) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>What is Storage? Definition, Types &amp; How it Works - Techopedia<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Storage is a process through which digital data is saved within a data storage device by means of computing technology. Learn the full meaning of storage here.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/definition\/storage\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Storage\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Storage is a process through which digital data is saved within a data storage device by means of computing technology. 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