What Is a Digital Storage Device?

A digital storage device typically refers to any type of hardware or device that can be used to store computer files and other digital information. While this can refer to any type of data storage hardware, including internal hard drives, the term is often used to refer to more portable storage solutions. Some of the most common storage devices include external hard drives that can easily connect to a computer and flash or thumb drives that are smaller and can quickly be exchanged between pieces of hardware. A digital storage device can also include smaller memory cards often used to store and transfer data between devices like cameras and smart phones.

The primary purpose of a digital storage device, as the name suggests, is the storage of computer files and other digital media. This type of device can technically refer to any sort of hardware that can be used to store digital information. An internal hard disk drive can then be considered a digital storage device, though it is not always thought of as a separate device from the rest of the computer. Hard drives typically connect to the motherboard of a computer through a cable and are often placed within the tower or computer case.

External devices are commonly thought of as a digital storage device, such as external hard drives. These hard drives are similar to internal drives in their basic components and design, but they connect to a computer through an external connection, such as a universal serial bus (USB) port, rather than a direct connection to the motherboard within the computer case. There are also flash or thumb drives that are smaller types of external storage devices that usually connect to a USB port. This sort of digital storage device can be quite small, often fitting in a pocket or on a keychain, and is usually used to transfer files between devices rather than storing files for long periods.

A digital storage device can also be a handheld external hard drive, which is typically connected to a computer or other device for data storage. Files can be transferred to this type of device, which is usually smaller in size than a full external hard drive, but with greater capacity than a thumb drive. There are also memory cards that can be considered as a type of digital storage device. These cards are usually quite small in size, and can be placed in a digital camera, smart phone, computer slot, or other device to store data and transfer information between hardware.