Types of Computer Storage

When it comes to types of data storage, the sky's the limit. There are literally hundreds of different storage mediums available in the consumer market. The most obvious types of computer storage that come to mind are the computer's hard drive, a diskette, or a CD-ROM.

However, an iPod or other MP3 player can serve as a type of computer storage. Tiny little USB drives, sometimes called thumb drives, are a type of computer storage that can fit on your keychain. Even smaller are chips called MiniSD cards, which are about the size of your thumbnail and contain enough storage space to hold hundreds of songs and photos.

Thankfully, most types of computer storage can be broken down into several main categories. Following is a brief guide to what these types of computer storage are called and how they work.

Memory Cards – Memory cards are most commonly used in digital cameras. They can range in size from a thumbnail to a matchbook. There are many different types and brands of memory cards, but the most popular types used today are Secure Digital (SD), Compact Flash, SONY Memory Stick, Multi Media Card (MMC), and SmartMedia. Don't worry about knowing what kind you’ll need; your device's instructions will tell you.

Disk Storage – Disk storage is generally made up of two categories: optical discs and hard disks. The most common optical discs are CD-ROMs or DVDs; any storage format that uses a laser to read information from a disc. Hard disks are magnetic, meaning they use either magnetic tape or a magnetic drive to store information. Examples of hard disks would be a floppy disk or the hard drive inside a computer. Currently, hard drives are able to store much more information than any other consumer storage medium.

Flash Memory – Flash memory uses the same technology that memory cards do, although most people define flash memory as a portable USB thumb drive or memory stick. Both are highly portable forms of storage memory for two reasons: flash memory can be very small, and there are no moving parts (which makes it less prone to malfunction). Some MP3 players use flash memory, such as the iPod Nano. However, flash memory is not able to store nearly as much memory as a hard drive, which is why MP3 players over 4GB use a disk drive instead of flash memory.

These three forms of computer storage are the most popular types used today. Computer storage is beneficial for a variety of reasons, one of the most useful being as a backup device. By backing up your files and data onto a portable or external storage media, you are giving yourself insurance in case your computer crashes. It's always a good idea to at least use cheap storage like CD-ROMs or thumb drives to backup your most vital documents and files. It's always better to be safe than sorry.

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