Definition

secondary storage

Secondary storage, sometimes called auxiliary storage, is all data storage that is not currently in a computer's primary storage or memory. An additional synonym is external storage.

In a personal computer, secondary storage typically consists of storage on the hard disk and on any removable media, if present, such as a CD or DVD.

Related glossary terms: hard disk, magnetoresistive head technology, RAMAC (random access method of accounting and control), Fibre Channel, memory card (flash memory card or storage card), Secure Digital card (SD card), DASD (direct access storage device), magneto-optical drive (MO), hard disk drive (HDD), storage capacity planning

This was last updated in September 2005

Posted by: Margaret Rouse

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