Sekundäärimuistiin

Sekundäärimuistiin, often translated as secondary storage or secondary memory, refers to a non-volatile storage device that is not directly accessed by the CPU. Unlike primary memory (RAM), which is volatile and used for active data and program instructions, secondary storage holds data and programs for long-term retention.

Common examples of secondary storage include hard disk drives (HDDs), solid-state drives (SSDs), USB flash drives, and optical discs like CDs and DVDs. These devices are characterized by their larger capacity and slower access speeds compared to primary memory. Data must typically be loaded from secondary storage into primary memory before the CPU can process it.

The primary function of secondary storage is to store the operating system, applications, and user files. It provides a persistent repository for information, ensuring that data is not lost when the computer is powered off. The choice of secondary storage impacts a system's performance, storage capacity, and cost. For instance, SSDs offer significantly faster read and write speeds than HDDs, leading to quicker boot times and application loading.