Primary Storage Device

What Does Primary Storage Device Mean?

A primary storage device is any storage device or component that can store nonvolatile data in computers, servers and other computing devices. It is used to hold/store data and applications temporarily or for a shorter period of time while the computer is running.

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Primary storage is also known as main storage, main memory or internal memory.

Techopedia Explains Primary Storage Device

Primary storage devices are internal to the system and are the fastest of the memory/storage device category. Typically, primary storage devices have an instance of all the data and applications currently in use or being processed. The computer fetches and keeps the data and files it in the primary storage device until the process is completed or data is no longer required. Random access memory (RAM), graphic card memory and cache memory are common examples of primary storage devices.

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Margaret Rouse

Margaret Rouse is an award-winning technical writer and teacher known for her ability to explain complex technical subjects to a non-technical, business audience. Over the past twenty years her explanations have appeared on TechTarget websites and she's been cited as an authority in articles by the New York Times, Time Magazine, USA Today, ZDNet, PC Magazine and Discovery Magazine.Margaret's idea of a fun day is helping IT and business professionals learn to speak each other’s highly specialized languages. If you have a suggestion for a new definition or how to improve a technical explanation, please email Margaret or contact her…