[Caleb Kiser]

Physical computer storage is where all your digital content actually lives: files, applications, operating systems, basically anything that needs to stick around even when the power’s off. There are a few main types of storage worth knowing. Hard drives (HDDs) use spinning disks and magnetic fields to store data. They’re affordable and hold a lot, but they’re slower and more prone to failure over time. Solid-state drives (SSDs) are way faster since they have no moving parts, and they’re also more durable, but usually cost more per gigabyte. You’ve also got flash storage like USB drives and SD cards—super handy and portable. Optical storage, like CDs and DVDs, used to be common but is slowly disappearing. Tape storage still exists too, mainly for large backups. Different connection methods like SATA, NVMe, and USB determine how fast and efficiently data moves. Understanding these options helps you know what’s best for different needs and setups.