Asis, Alberto P. BSIS-2B user.

Once, the computer is turned off, the data is

deleted. With the help of RAM, computers can perform

The storage unit is a part of the computer system

which is employed to store the information and
instructions to be processed. A storage device is an
multiple tasks like loading applications, browsing the
integral part of the computer hardware which stores
web, editing a spreadsheet, experiencing the newest
information/data to process the result of any
game, etc. It allows you to modify quickly among these
computational work. Without a storage device, a
tasks, remembering where you’re in one task once you
computer would not be able to run or even boot up.
switch to a different task. It is also used to load and run
Or in other words, we can say that a storage device is
applications, like your spreadsheet program, answers
hardware that is used for storing, porting, or extracting
commands, like all edits you made within the
data files. It can also store information/data both
spreadsheet, or toggle between multiple programs,
temporarily and permanently.
like once you left the spreadsheet to see the email.
Types of Computer Memory Memory is nearly always actively employed by your
computer. It ranges from 1GB – 32GB/64GB depending
1. Primary Memory: It is also known as internal
upon the specifications. There are different types of
memory and main memory. This is a section of
RAM, and although they all serve the same purpose,
the CPU that holds program instructions, input
the most common ones are :
data, and intermediate results. It is generally
smaller in size. RAM (Random Access Memory)  Static Random Access Memory
and ROM (Read Only Memory) are examples of
It consists of circuits that retain stored information as
primary storage.
long as the power supply is on. It is also known as
2. Secondary Memory: Secondary storage is a
volatile memory. It is used to build Cache memory. The
memory that is stored external to the
access time of SRAM is lower and it is much faster as
computer. It is mainly used for the permanent
compared to DRAM but in terms of cost, it is costly as
and long-term storage of programs and data.
compared to DRAM.
Hard Disks, CDs, DVDs, Pen/Flash drives, SSD,
etc, are examples of secondary storage.  Dynamic Random Access Memory
3. Tertiary Memory: Tertiary Memory is a type of
Memory that is rarely used in personal It is used to store binary bits in the form of electrical
computers and due to this, tertiary memory is charges that are applied to capacitors. The access time
not considered to be an important one. of DRAM is slower as compared to SRAM but it is
Tertiary memory works automatically without cheaper than SRAM and has a high packaging density.
human intervention.  Synchronous Dynamic Random Access
Types of Computer Storage Devices Memory

1. Primary Storage Devices It is faster than DRAM. It is widely used in computers

and others. After SDRAM was introduced, the
RAM: It stands for upgraded version of double data rate RAM, i.e., DDR1,
Random Access Memory DDR2, DDR3, and DDR4 was entered into the market
and widely used in home/office desktops and laptops.
. It is used to store information that is used
immediately or we can say that it is a temporary  Read-Only Memory
memory. Computers bring the software installed on a The data written or stored in these devices are non-
hard disk to RAM to process it and to be used by the volatile, i.e, once the data is stored in the memory
cannot be modified or deleted. The memory from
which will only read but cannot write it. This type of
memory is non-volatile. The information is stored position) to read the information present on the track.
permanently during manufacture only once. ROM The read-write speed of HDDs is not so fast but decent.
stores instructions that are used to start a computer. It ranges from a few GBs to a few and more TB.
This operation is referred to as bootstrap. It is also
used in other electronic items like washers and
microwaves. ROM chips can only store a few Magnetic Card
megabytes (MB) of data, which ranges between 4 and
8 MB per ROM chip. There are two types of ROM: It is a card in which data is stored by modifying or
rearranging the magnetism of tiny iron-based magnetic
 Programmable Read-Only Memory particles present on the band of the card. It is also
known as a swipe card. It is used like a passcode(to
These are ROMs that can be programmed. A special
enter the house or hotel room), credit card, identity
PROM programmer is employed to enter the program
card, etc.
on the PROM. Once the chip has been programmed,
information on the PROM can’t be altered. PROM is  Tape Cassette
non-volatile, that is data is not lost when power is
switched off. It is also known as a music cassette. It is a rectangular
flat container in which the data is stored in an analog
 Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory magnetic tape. It is generally used to store audio
recordings.
It is possible to erase the info which has been
previously stored on an EPROM and write new data  SuperDisk
onto the chip.
It is also called LS-240 and LS-120. It is introduced by
 Electrically erasable programmable read-only Imation Corporation and it is popular with OEM
memory computers. It can store data up to 240 MB.
Here, data can be erased without using ultraviolet 3. Flash Memory Devices
light, with the use of just applying the electric field.
It is a cheaper and more portable storage device. It is
2. Magnetic Storage Devices the most commonly used device to store data because
 Floppy Disk is more reliable and efficient as compared to other
storage devices. Some of the commonly used flash
Floppy Disk is also known as a floppy diskette. It is
memory devices are:
generally used on a personal computer to store data
externally. A Floppy disk is made up of a plastic  Pen Drive
cartridge and secured with a protective case.
Nowadays floppy disk is replaced by new and effective It is also known as a USB flash drive that includes flash
storage devices like USB, etc. memory with an integrated USB interface. We can
directly connect these devices to our computers and
 Hard Disk laptops and read/write data into them in a much faster
and more efficient way. These devices are very
Is a storage device (HDD) that stores and retrieves data
portable. It ranges from 1GB to 256GB generally.
using magnetic storage. It is a non-volatile storage
device that can be modified or deleted n number of  Solid State Drive
times without any problem. Most computers and
laptops have HDDs as their secondary storage device. It A mass storage device like HDD. It is more durable
is actually a set of stacked disks, just like phonograph because it does not contain optical disks inside like
records. In every hard disk, the data is recorded hard disks. It needs less power as compared to hard
electromagnetically in concentric circles or we can say disks, is lightweight, and has 10x faster read and writes
track present on the hard disk, and with the help of a speed as compared to hard disks. But, these are costly
head just like a phonograph arm(but fixed in a as well. While SSDs serve an equivalent function as
hard drives, their internal components are much  Digital Versatile Disc
different. Unlike hard drives, SSDs don’t have any
DVDs are circular flat optical discs used to store data. It
moving parts and thus they’re called solid-state drives.
comes in two different sizes one is 4.7GB single-layer
Instead of storing data on magnetic platters, SSDs store
discs and another one is 8.5GB double-layer discs.
data using non-volatile storage. Since SSDs haven’t any
DVDs look like CDs but the storage capacity of DVDs is
moving parts, they do not need to “spin up”. It ranges
more than as compared to CDs. It is of two types:
from 150GB to a few more TB.
 DVD-R
 SD Card:
It stands for Digital Versatile Disc read-only. In this type
It is known as a Secure Digital Card. It is generally used
of DVD, once the data is written can not be erased. It is
with electronic devices like phones, digital cameras,
read-only. It is generally used to write movies, etc.
etc. to store larger data. It is portable and the size of
the SD card is also small so that it can easily fit into  DVD-RW
electronic devices. It is available in different sizes like
2GB, 4GB, 8GB, etc. It stands for Digital Versatile Disc Read Write. In this
type of DVD, you can easily write or erase data
 Memory Card: multiple times.
It is generally used in digital cameras. Printers, game  Blu-ray Disc
consoles, etc. It is also used to store large amounts of
data and is available in different sizes. To run a memory It is just like CD and DVD but the storage capacity of
card on a computer you require a separate memory blue ray is up to 25GB. To run a Blu-ray disc you need a
card reader. separate Blu-ray reader. This Blu-ray technology is used
to read a disc from a blue-violet laser due to which the
 Multimedia Card information is stored in greater density with a longer
wavelength.
It is also known as MMC. It is an integrated circuit that
is generally used in-car radios, digital cameras, etc. It is 5. Cloud and Virtual Storage
an external device to store data/information.
Nowadays, secondary memory has been upgraded to
4. Optical Storage Devices virtual or cloud storage devices. We can store our files
and other stuff in the cloud and the data is stored for
Optical Storage Devices is also secondary storage
as long as we pay for the cloud storage. There are
device. It is a removable storage device. Following are
many companies that provide cloud services largely
some optical storage devices:
Google, Amazon, Microsoft, etc. We can pay the rent
 Compact Disc for the amount of space we need and we get multiple
benefits out of it. Though it is actually being stored in a
It contains tracks and sectors on its surface to store
physical device located in the data centers of the
data. It is made up of polycarbonate plastic and is
service provider, the user doesn’t interact with the
circular in shape. CD can store data up to 700MB. It is
physical device and its maintenance. For example,
of two types:
Amazon Web Services offers AWS S3 as a type of
 CD-R storage where users can store data virtually instead of
being stored in physical hard drive devices. These sorts
It stands for Compact Disc read-only. In this type of CD, of innovations represent the frontier of where storage
once the data is written can not be erased. It is read- media goes.
only.
Types of Information Retrieval Model
 CD-RW
There are several information retrieval techniques
It stands for Compact Disc Read Write. In this type of
and types that can help you with the process. An
CD, you can easily write or erase data multiple times.
information retrieval comprises of the following four
key elements:

1. D − Document Representation.

2. Q − Query Representation.
3. F − A framework to match and establish a
relationship between D and Q.
4. R (q, di) − A ranking function that determines
the similarity between the query and the
document to display relevant information.

There are three types of Information Retrieval (IR)

models:

1. Classical IR Model — It is designed upon basic

mathematical concepts and is the most widely-used
of IR models. Classic Information Retrieval models
can be implemented with ease. Its examples include
Vector-space, Boolean and Probabilistic IR models. In
this system, the retrieval of information depends on
documents containing the defined set of queries.
There is no ranking or grading of any kind. The
different classical IR models take Document
Representation, Query representation, and
Retrieval/Matching function into account in their
modelling. This is one of the most used Information
retrieval models.

2. Non-Classical IR Model — They differ from classic

models in that they are built upon propositional
logic. Examples of non-classical IR models include
Information Logic, Situation Theory, and Interaction
models.

3. Alternative IR Model — These take principles

of classical IR model and enhance upon to create
more functional models like the Cluster model,
Alternative Set-Theoretic Models Fuzzy Set
model, Latent Semantic Indexing (LSI) model,
Alternative Algebraic Models Generalized Vector
Space Model, etc.