A storage unit is a part of the computer system serve the same purpose, the most common ones

which is employed to store the information and are : 

instructions to be processed. A storage device is an SRAM: It stands for Static Random Access
integral part of the computer hardware which stores Memory. It consists of circuits that retain stored
information/data to process the result of any information as long as the power supply is on. It is
computational work. Without a storage device, a also known as volatile memory. It is used to build
computer would not be able to run or even boot up. Cache memory. The access time of SRAM is lower
Or in other words, we can say that a storage device and it is much faster as compared to DRAM but in
is hardware that is used for storing, porting, or terms of cost, it is costly as compared to DRAM.
extracting data files. It can also store DRAM: It stands for Dynamic Random Access
information/data both temporarily and permanently. Memory. It is used to stores binary bits in the form
Computer storage is of two types:  of electrical charges that are applied to capacitors.
Primary Storage Devices: It is also known as The access time of DRAM is slower as compare to
internal memory and main memory. This is a SRAM but it is cheaper than SRAM and has a high
section of the CPU that holds program instructions, packaging density.
input data, and intermediate results. It is generally SDRAM: It stands for Synchronous Dynamic
smaller in size. RAM (Random Access Memory) Random Access Memory. It is faster than DRAM. It
and ROM (Read Only Memory) are examples of is widely used in computers and others. After
primary storage. SDRAM was introduced, the upgraded version of
Secondary Storage Devices: Secondary storage is a double data rate RAM, i.e., DDR1, DDR2, DDR3,
memory that is stored external to the computer. It is and DDR4 was entered into the market and widely
mainly used for the permanent and long-term used in home/office desktops and laptops.
storage of programs and data. Hard Disk, CD, (ii) ROM: It stands for Read-Only Memory. The
DVD, Pen/Flash drive, SSD, etc, are examples of data written or stored in these devices are non-
secondary storage. volatile, i.e, once the data is stored in the memory
Storage Devices cannot be modified or deleted. The memory from
Now we will discuss different types of storage which will only read but cannot write it. This type
devices available in the market. These storage of memory is non-volatile. The information is
devices have their own specification and use. Some stored permanently during manufacture only once.
of the commonly used storage devices are: ROM stores instructions that are used to start a
1. Primary storage devices computer. This operation is referred to as bootstrap.
(i) RAM: It stands for Random Access Memory. It It is also used in other electronic items like washers
is used to store information that is used immediately and microwaves. ROM chips can only store few
or we can say that it is a temporary memory. megabytes (MB) of data, which ranges between 4
Computers bring the software installed on a hard and 8 MB per ROM chip. There are two types of
disk to RAM to process it and to be used by the ROM: 
user. Once, the computer is turned off, the data is PROM: PROM is Programmable Read-Only
deleted. With the help of RAM, computers can Memory. These are ROMs that can be programmed.
perform multiple tasks like loading applications, A special PROM programmer is employed to enter
browsing the web, editing a spreadsheet, the program on the PROM. Once the chip has been
experiencing the newest game, etc. It allows you to programmed, information on the PROM can’t be
modify quickly among these tasks, remembering altered. PROM is non-volatile, that is data is not lost
where you’re in one task once you switch to a when power is switched off.
different task. It is also used to load and run EPROM: Another sort of memory is that the
applications, like your spreadsheet program, answer Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory. It is
commands, like all edits you made within the possible to erase the info which has been previously
spreadsheet, or toggle between multiple programs, stored on an EPROM and write new data onto the
like once you left the spreadsheet to see the email. chip.
Memory is nearly always being actively employed 2. Magnetic Storage Devices
by your computer. It ranges from 1GB – (i) Floppy Disk: It is also known as a floppy
32GB/64GB depending upon the specifications. diskette. It is generally used on a personal computer
There are different types of RAM, although they all to store data externally. A Floppy disk is made up of
a plastic cartridge and secures with a protective are much different. Unlike hard drives, SSDs don’t
case. Nowadays floppy disk is replaced by new and have any moving parts and thus they’re called solid-
effective storage devices like USB, etc. state drives. Instead of storing data on magnetic
(ii) Hard Disk: It is a storage device (HDD) that platters, SSDs store data using non-volatile storage.
stores and retrieves data using magnetic storage. It Since SSDs haven’t any moving parts, they do not
is a non-volatile storage device that can be modified need to “spin up”. It ranges from 150GB to a few
or deleted n number of times without any problem. and more TB.
Most of the computers and laptops have HDDs as (iii) SD Card: It is known as a Secure Digital Card.
their secondary storage device. It is actually a set of It is generally used with electronic devices like
stacked disks, just like phonograph records. In every phones, digital cameras, etc. to store larger data. It
hard disk, the data is recorded electromagnetically is portable and the size of the SD card is also small
in the concentric circles or we can say track present so that it can easily fit into electronic devices. It is
on the hard disk, and with the help of a head just available in different sizes like 2GB, 4GB, 8GB,
like a phonograph arm(but fixed in a position) to etc.
read the information present on the track. The read- (iv) Memory Card: It is generally used in digital
write speed of HDDs is not so fast but decent. It cameras. printers, game consoles, etc. It is also used
ranges from a few GBs to a few and more TB. to store large amounts of data and is available in
(iii) Magnetic Card: It is a card in which data is different sizes. To run a memory card on a
stored by modifying or rearranging the magnetism computer you require a separate memory card
of tiny iron-based magnetic particles present on the reader.  
band of the card. It is also known as a swipe card. It (v) Multimedia Card: It is also known as MMC. It
is used like a passcode(to enter into house or hotel is an integrated circuit that is generally used in-car
room), credit card, identity card, etc.  radios, digital cameras, etc. It is an external device
(iv) Tape Cassette: It is also known as a music to store data/information.
cassette. It is a rectangular flat container in which 4. Optical Storage Devices
the data is stored in an analog magnetic tape. It is Optical Storage Devices is also a secondary storage
generally used to store audio recordings.  device. It is a removable storage device. Following
(v) SuperDisk: It is also called LS-240 and LS-120. are some optical storage devices:
It is introduced by Imation corporation and it is (i) CD: It is known as Compact Disc. It contains
popular with OEM computers. It can store data up tracks and sectors on its surface to store data. It is
to 240 MB.  made up of polycarbonate plastic and is circular in
3. Flash memory Devices shape. CD can store data up to 700MB. It is of two
It is a cheaper and portable storage device. It is the types:
most commonly used device to store data because is CD-R: It stands for Compact Disc read-only. In this
more reliable and efficient as compare to other type of CD, once the data is written can not be
storage devices. Some of the commonly used flash erased. It is read-only.
memory devices are: CD-RW: It stands for Compact Disc read Write. In
(i) Pen Drive: It is also known as a USB flash drive this type of CD, you can easily write or erase data
that includes flash memory with an integrated USB multiple times.
interface. We can directly connect these devices to (ii) DVD: It is known as Digital Versatile Disc.
our computers and laptops and read/write data into DVDs are circular flat optical discs used to store
them in a much faster and efficient way. These data. It comes in two different sizes one is 4.7GB
devices are very portable. It ranges from 1GB to single-layer discs and another one is 8.5GB double-
256GB generally. layer discs. DVDs look like CDs but the storage
(ii) SSD: It stands for Solid State Drive, a mass capacity of DVDs is more than as compared to CDs.
storage device like HDDs. It is more durable It is of two types:
because it does not contain optical disks inside like DVD-R: It stands for Digital Versatile Disc read-
hard disks. It needs less power as compared to hard only. In this type of DVD, once the data is written
disks, is lightweight, and has 10x faster read and cannot be erased. It is read-only. It is generally used
write speed as compared to hard disks. But, these to write movies, etc.
are costly as well. While SSDs serve an equivalent DVD-RW: It stands for Digital Versatile Disc read
function as hard drives, their internal components Write. In this type of DVD, you can easily write or
erase data multiple times.
(iii) Blu-ray Disc: It is just like CD and DVD but
the storage capacity of blu ray is up to 25GB. To
run a Blu-ray disc, you need a separate Blu-ray
reader. This Blu-ray technology is used to read a
disc from a blue-violet laser due to which the
information is stored in greater density with a
longer wavelength.
5. Cloud and Virtual Storage
Nowadays, secondary memory has been upgraded
to virtual or cloud storage devices. We can store our
files and other stuff in the cloud and the data is
stored for as long as we pay for the cloud storage.
There are many companies that provide cloud
services largely Google, Amazon, Microsoft, etc.
We can pay the rent for the amount of space we
need and we get multiple benefits out of it. Though
it is actually being stored in a physical device
located in the data centers of the service provider,
the user doesn’t interact with the physical device
and its maintenance. For example, Amazon Web
Services offers AWS S3 as a type of storage where
users can store data virtually instead of being stored
in physical hard drive devices. These sorts of
innovations represent the frontier of where storage
media goes.