The primary computer storage device, which spins, reads and writes one or more fixed disk platters. In practice, the terms "hard drive" and "hard disk" are used synonymously. Hard drives are the storage medium in desktop and laptop computers as well as all servers and mainframes throughout the world. They are also used in printers for storing fonts and print jobs as well as digital music players and a myriad of other portable and stationary computer-based devices. Although removable disks encased in cartridges use the same "hard" disk media and a similar drive technology, they are mostly called "removable drives" rather than hard drives.
The term "hard" differentiates high-capacity rigid disks made of aluminum or glass from low-capacity floppy disks made of plastic. See hard drive capacity and hard disk.
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