 Storage of digital data readable by computers |
Computer data storage or digital data storage is the retention of digital data via technology consisting of computer components and recording media. Digital data storage is a core function and fundamental component of computers.1
For broader coverage of this topic, see Data storage.
Generally, the faster and volatile storage components are referred to as "memory", while slower persistent components are referred to as "storage". This distinction was extended in the , where the (CPU) consists of two main parts: The and the (ALU). The former controls the flow of data between the CPU and memory, while the latter performs arithmetic and on data. In practice, almost all computers use a , which puts memory close to the CPU and storage further away.