Covers A1.1.7 (types of secondary storage) and A1.1.8 (compression). Both are core topics for SL and HL. You will learn how magnetic, solid-state and optical storage work, how to weigh them up on speed, capacity, cost, durability and volatility, and how lossless and lossy compression shrink files in different ways.
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What secondary storage is
Secondary storage is non-volatile: it keeps data even when the computer is switched off, unlike RAM which is volatile and temporary.
It is not directly accessible by the CPU and is used for long-term storage, so it is also called auxiliary storage or mass storage.
It splits into internal storage inside the device (such as an internal HDD or SSD) and external storage connected by USB or Thunderbolt (such as external drives, flash drives and memory cards).
Network attached storage (NAS) is shared secondary storage on a network, often using RAID to protect against drive failure.
Check you've got it
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1. How does secondary storage differ from primary memory (RAM)?
2. What is the main physical difference between a hard disk drive (HDD) and a solid-state drive (SSD)?
3. Which statement about lossless compression is correct?
4. For which situation is lossy compression most suitable?
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