The hard drive is the most common form of data storage today. Like floppy disks, hard drive store data in tracks, which are then divided into sectors. Physically, a hard drive is very different from a floppy.

A hard disk is a stack of one or more metal paltters that spin on one spindle. Each platter is coated with iron oxide, and the entire unit is encased in a protective casing. Hard drives are the primary means of data storage in PC's because of its cost and efficiency. Its speed and capacity, they far outperform a floppy.

Because a hard disk is composed of a rigid material, it can spin at higher speeds. 3600+rpm (revolutions per minute) compared to a floppy's 300rpm. Because of its high speed, a hard disk requires a smaller coil, and therefore a smaller read/write head.

The only disadvantage to a hard drive is that if the read/write head touches the diak surface, then the data on the drive would be lost.

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