Computer data storage:

Computer data storage, frequently called memory or storage refers to computer recording media and components, devices that received digital data used for computing for some interval of time. Computer data storage provides 1 of the core functions of the modern computer, that of information retention. It is 1 of the elementary components of all modern computers, and coupled with a CPU implements the fundamental computer model used since the year 1940s.

In modern usage, memory frequently refers to a form of semiconductor storage known as random-access memory (RAM) and sometimes other forms of fast but temporary storage. Likewise, storage today more usually refers to mass storage - optical discs, forms of magnetic storage as hard disk drives, and other memory type slower than RAM, but of a more enduring nature. Historically, storage and memory were respectively called primary memory and secondary storage. The terms external memory and internal memory are also used. The current distinctions are supportive, because they are also fundamental to the architecture of computers in universal. The distinctions also reflect a essential and significant technical difference between mass storage devices and memory which has been blurred by the historical usage of the term storage. However, this article uses the traditional nomenclature.