Question

What part of the computer holds data for long periods of time, even when there is no power to the computer?

Short answer

Answer: The computer component that can store data for long periods without power is the Hard Disk Drive (HDD) or Solid State Drive (SSD). They function as non-volatile storage devices that retain information even when the power is off. HDDs use spinning magnetic disks for storage, while SSDs use NAND-based flash memory, making SSDs generally faster and more durable.

Step-by-step solution

Understanding the question

The question asks us to identify a specific computer component responsible for holding data when there is no power. This component is commonly used in computers for long-term storage.

Identifying the computer component

The computer component which holds data for long periods of time, even when there is no power to the computer, is the Hard Disk Drive (HDD) or Solid State Drive (SSD). These are non-volatile storage devices that retain their information even without power.

Brief explanation of its function

Hard Disk Drives (HDDs) and Solid State Drives (SSDs) are used for long-term storage in computers. They store the computer's operating system, programs, and user-generated data. Both HDDs and SSDs have non-volatile memory, meaning they can retain the stored data even when the power is turned off. The key difference between these two is that HDDs use spinning magnetic disks for storage, whereas SSDs use NAND-based flash memory. As a result, SSDs are generally faster and more durable than HDDs.