There are lot of storage devices used to store data but the most common used are the CD, DVD, memory cards, memory sticks, floppy diskettes, tape storage systems, magnetic disk drive systems, pen drives, optical data storage products and removable cartridge hard drives. A storage device, also called a secondary storage device, used to store instructions, data, and information.

Some common types of storage devices are magnetic disk, optical disks, tape and miniature mobile storage media. A data storage device is a device used for recording the data. Recording can be done by using any form of energy, spanning from manual muscle power in handwriting to acoustic vibrations in phonographic recording, to electromagnetic energy modulating magnetic tape and optical discs. There are many hardwaremarket places which provides computer hardware products.

A storage device may hold the information, process information, or both. A device that only holds information is a recording medium. Devices that processes information (data storage equipment) may either access a separate portable (removable) recording medium or a permanent component to store and retrieve information.

Storage devices provide two types of data access: sequential or direct. With sequential storage, the computer searches for and retrieves data in the same order it was stored. Magnetic tapes are examples of a sequential secondary storage device because they store date sequentially.

Data Storage Equipment
Any input/output equipment may be considered data storage equipment if it writes to and reads from a data storage medium. Data storage equipment uses either:

• portable methods (easily replaced).
• semi-portable methods requiring mechanical disassembly tools and/or opening.
• inseparable methods meaning loss of memory if disconnected from the unit.

Flash Drives: In Demand
"Jump Drive" redirects here. Judging by the quantity of USB flash drives in the market, no one will doubt the popularity of the floppy replacement. A Pen Drive has lot of advantages attached to it and they have been around for several years now and have actually acquired a special space in electronic market.

• A flash memory is integrated with a USB interface. USB flash drives are typically removable and rewritable, much shorter than a floppy disk.
• Most part have the same primary function that is to be small, portable storage drives. Users can simply plug a flash drive into an available USB port and have a new drive show up in My Computer.
• They are compact, faster, hold much more data, have more durable designs, and are more reliable. Additionally, it has become increasingly common for computers to ship without floppy disk drives.