A storage device is a hardware component that allows you to store and retrieve digital information on your computer. It is an integral part of the computer hardware that stores information/data to process the result of any computational work. Storage devices consist of computer components and recording media that are used to retain digital data. They are used for storing, porting, or extracting data files and objects. Storage devices are not directly accessible by the CPU and are typically slower than RAM but non-volatile, meaning they retain their contents when powered down.
There are several types of storage devices available, including hard disk drives (HDDs), solid-state drives (SSDs), universal serial bus (USB) flash drives, memory cards, and network-attached storage (NAS) devices. Each type has its own advantages and specific use cases. For example, HDDs are the most common type of storage device and are capable of holding the most data, while SSDs are faster and more reliable but more expensive. USB flash drives and memory cards are portable and convenient for transferring data between devices, while NAS devices are used for storing data on a network.