1.3.11

Magnetic Storage

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How Magnetic Storage Works

The most common type of magnetic storage is the Hard Disk Drive (HDD).

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Storing a bit

  • The value of each bit of data (0 or 1) is represented as a positively or negatively charged magnetic particle.
  • These particles are part of a magnetic disk called the platter.
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Accessing data

  • Data could be stored anywhere on the disk, and so to read/write data we first need to find the location on the disk.
  • A magnetic read/write head is used to access the data while the platter spins.
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Reliability

  • The HDD has moving parts.
  • Although the HDD is generally reliable, any device with moving parts will be subject to wear-and-tear.
  • HDDs can also be damaged by shocks. They are not robust.

Properties of Magnetic Media

To compare magnetic storage with the other types of media, it is important to understand the advantages and disadvantages of storing data magnetically.

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Low cost

  • Magnetic media is very low cost per unit capacity.
  • This makes it an economical choice for storing large amounts of data.
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Low speed

  • Magnetic media needs a high number of moving parts.
  • The high number of moving parts make magnetic media slow to access.
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Good reliability

  • Magnetic media is reliable and tends to last for a long time.
  • Magnetic media is not robust, and tends to break on impact or during vibrations.
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High capacity

  • Magnetic media can store a large quantity of data in a compact way.
  • This makes them a popular choice for archives as well as home computers.

Jump to other topics

1Computer Systems

1.1Data Representation

1.1.1Binary Numbers

1.1.2Negative Binary Numbers

1.1.3Hexadecimal

1.1.4Using Hexadecimal

1.1.5Converting Binary & Hexadecimal

1.1.6Converting Denary & Hexadecimal

1.1.7Capacity

1.1.8Calculating Capacity Requirements

1.1.9Binary in Computer Systems

1.1.10Data Compression

1.1.11Run Length Encoding

1.1.12File Formats

1.2Data Transmission

1.2.1Packet Switching

1.2.2Data Transmission

1.2.3Universal Serial Bus (USB)

1.2.4Parity Check

1.2.5Checksum & Echo Checks

1.2.6Encryption

1.3Hardware

1.3.1Elements of Computer Systems

1.3.2Types of Computer System

1.3.3Von Neumann Architecture

1.3.4The Fetch, Decode, Execute Cycle

1.3.5Factors Affecting CPU Performance

1.3.6Computational Logic

1.3.7Input Devices

1.3.82D & 3D Scanners

1.3.9Code Readers

1.3.10Solid State Storage

1.3.11Magnetic Storage

1.3.12Examples of Magnetic Storage

1.3.13Optical Storage

1.3.14Examples of Optical Storage

1.3.15Types of Optical disk

1.3.16Storage Requirements

1.3.17Translation - Compilers

1.3.18Translation - Interpreters

1.3.19Translation - Assemblers

1.3.20Acoustic Sensors

1.3.21Flow Sensors

1.3.22Gas Sensors

1.3.23Humidity Sensors

1.3.24Infrared Sensors

1.3.25Level Sensors

1.3.26Light Sensors

1.3.27Magnetic Field Sensors

1.3.28Moisture Sensors

1.3.29pH Sensors

1.3.30Pressure Sensors

1.3.31Proximity Sensors

1.3.32Temperature Sensors

1.3.33Network Hardware

1.4Software

1.4.1Operating Systems

1.4.2Interrupts

1.4.3High-Level Languages

1.4.4Low-Level Languages

1.5The Internet & its Uses

1.5.1The Internet

1.5.2Uniform Resource Locators (URLs)

1.5.3DNS

1.5.4HTML

1.5.5Cookies

1.5.6Web Hosting

1.5.7Digital Currency

1.6Cyber Security

1.6.1Forms of Attack

1.6.2Penetration Testing

1.6.3Types of Malware

1.6.4How Malware Spreads

1.6.5Protecting Against Malware

1.6.6Information Security

1.6.7Structured Query Language (SQL) Injection

1.6.8Firewalls

1.6.9Authentication: User Access Levels

1.6.10Authentication: Passwords

1.6.11Social Engineering

1.6.12Phishing

1.6.13Denial of Service Attacks

1.7Automated & Emerging Technologies

1.7.1Automated Systems

1.7.2Robotics

1.7.3Artificial Intelligence

2Algorithms, Programming & Logic

2.1Algorithm Design & Problem Solving

2.1.1Computational Thinking - Abstraction

2.1.2Computational Thinking - Decomposition

2.1.3Computational Thinking - Algorithmic Thinking

2.1.4Pseudocode

2.1.5Flow Diagrams

2.1.6Interpreting, Correcting & Completing Algorithm

2.1.7Correcting Algorithms

2.1.8Completing Algorithms

2.1.9Testing

2.1.10Types of Testing

2.1.11Test Plans

2.1.12Validation & Sanitation

2.1.13Authentication & Contingencies

2.2Programming

2.2.1Programming Fundamentals - Variables & Constants

2.2.2Programming Fundamentals - Comments

2.2.3Programming Fundamentals - Input & Output

2.2.4Data Types

2.2.5Casting

2.2.6Controlling Program Flow - Sequence

2.2.7Controlling Program Flow - Selection

2.2.8Controlling Program Flow - Iteration

2.2.9Modularity - Subroutines

2.2.10Modularity - Scope

2.2.11Arrays

2.3Databases

2.3.1Structuring Data - Records

2.3.2Structuring Data - Databases

2.3.3SQL

2.4Boolean Logic

2.4.1Binary Systems

2.4.2Logic Circuits

2.4.3Truth Tables

2.4.4Evaluating Expressions

2.4.5Boolean Operators

2.4.6End of Topic Test - Logic

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Solid State Storage

Examples of Magnetic Storage