Hard drives are a traditional computer storage solution that can offer ample space at an affordable price. They’re a great choice for those looking to save media files, backups and other large data sets. However, they do lag behind in speed compared to other storage solutions, impacting overall system performance.

A hard disk drive (HDD) is an electromechanical data storage device that uses magnetic recording to store and retrieve digital information. They consist of one or more magnetically sensitive platters with a read/write actuator arm and are powered by a motor. Each platter is organized into concentric circles called tracks and sectors. A sector is a logical unit of storage that is divided into smaller units known as blocks, each of which contains read/write information. Each block is assigned a unique address which determines where data can be found on the platter. The read/write head then scans the platter to locate and access the data.

HDDs are often used to house operating systems and user data in a computer. They are also non-volatile, meaning that they retain stored information even when power is not being applied. They have been around for decades and are a familiar and reliable technology.

While they are a cost-effective solution, hard drives have slower speeds than SSDs and can experience mechanical failure. They are also much heavier and use more energy than their counterparts. In an effort to improve the efficiency of hard drives, manufacturers have implemented new technologies such as shingled magnetic recording and helium-filled designs. These improvements have helped increase the storage capacities of hard drives while reducing the amount of power needed to operate them.