Secondary memory is non-volatile memory not directly accessed by the CPU, including hard drives, CDs, DVDs, and flash drives. Primary memory is accessed directly by the CPU, while tertiary and offline storage are external memory accessed through automated systems or remotely.
Secondary memory is a type of computer memory that is not directly accessed by a computer’s central processing unit (CPU) and is usually available as non-volatile memory. One of the most common forms of this memory is a computer’s hard drive, used to store the operating system (OS) and other programs. Other forms of secondary storage include disk drives for compact discs (CDs) or digital versatile disks (DVDs), as well as removable flash memory. In contrast, primary memory is computer memory that is accessed directly by the CPU, usually volatile memory, and tertiary memory refers to systems external to a computer that can be accessed directly through various means.
There are different types of memory used by computer systems and secondary memory is one of the most common and important ones. This type of memory is typically recognized by how it is used by a computer system and how data is stored on it. The main feature of this type of memory is that it is not accessed directly from the CPU, but through a connection that allows its use. This type of memory is also usually non-volatile memory, meaning that it retains data even without a power source.
One of the most common types of secondary storage is a computer hard drive. This drive is accessed by the CPU via one of several indirect methods, and data remains on the drive even without power. Other disk drives, such as those used with CDs and DVDs, are also types of secondary storage that are used for other purposes. Easily removable types of storage, such as flash drives, are also secondary storage and use interfaces such as a Universal Serial Bus (USB) port that the CPU can access.
In addition to secondary storage, many computer systems also use primary storage, tertiary storage, and offline storage. Primary memory is the memory on a computer that is accessed directly by the CPU, namely random access memory (RAM) and memory used to store the basic input/output system (BIOS). Tertiary memory is typically external memory that a computer can access directly through some type of automated system, such as a bank of hard drives that can be connected to a computer through the use of a robotic armature. Offline storage is storage that can be accessed and used remotely, such as servers that can be used over an internet connection for data backup or archiving.
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