kovalevyllä

Kovalevyllä (Finnish for "hard disk drive" or "hard drive") is a non-volatile data storage device used for storing and retrieving digital information. It is a type of data storage medium that uses rapidly rotating disks (platters) to read and write data. The platters are made from rigid materials such as aluminum or glass, hence the term "hard" in its name. Data is written and read by a mechanical arm with a read/write head that floats just above the spinning platters.

The first hard disk drive was introduced by IBM in 1956, and since then, they have evolved significantly in terms of capacity, speed, and reliability. Modern hard disk drives can store hundreds of gigabytes to several terabytes of data. They are commonly used in computers, servers, and other electronic devices for storing operating systems, applications, and user data.

Hard disk drives operate using magnetic storage technology. Data is written onto the platters in the form of magnetic patterns, which can be read by the read/write head. The platters are coated with a magnetic material, and the read/write head generates a magnetic field to write data and detects changes in the magnetic field to read data.

Despite advancements in solid-state drives (SSDs), hard disk drives remain popular due to their lower cost per gigabyte and larger storage capacities. However, they are generally slower than SSDs and have a higher risk of mechanical failure due to their moving parts. Regular maintenance and proper handling can help extend the lifespan of a hard disk drive.