What do you call the process of transferring items from memory to a storage medium?

Storage holds data, instructions, and information for future use.All types of users store digital photos; appointments, schedules, and contact/address information; correspondence, such as letters, e-mail messages; tax records; and Web pages.

A storage medium (media is the plural), also called secondary storage, is the physical material on which a computer keeps data, instructions, and information. Examples are on the image below :

• Capacity is the number of bytes (characters) a storage medium can hold.
  
• A storage device is the computer hardware that records and/or retrieves items to and from storage media. 
  
• Writing is the process of transferring data, instructions, and information from memory to a storage medium. 
  
• Reading is the process of transferring these items from a storage medium into memory.
  
• The speed of storage devices is defined by access time.
  
• Access time measures the amount of time it takes a storage device to locate an item on a storage medium. The access time of storage devices is slow, compared with the access time of memory. 
  
• Memory (chips) accesses items in billionths of a second (nanoseconds). 
  
• Storage devices, by contrast, access items in thousandths of a second  (milliseconds) or millionths of a second (microseconds). 
  

A hard disk is a storage device that contains one or more inflexible, circular platters that use magnetic particles to store data, instructions, and information.

A group of two or more integrated hard disks is called a RAID (redundant array of independent disks). RAID is an ideal storage solution for users who must have the data available when they attempt to access it.

A network attached storage (NAS) device is a server connected to a network with the sole p urpose of providing storage. Any user or device connected to the network can access files on the NAS device. 

An external hard disk is a separate freestanding hard disk that connects with a cable to a USB port or FireWire port on the system unit or communicates wirelessly. As with the internal hard disk, the entire hard disk is enclosed in an airtight, sealed case.

A removable hard disk is a hard disk that you insert and remove from a drive.

External and removable hard disks offer the following advantages over internal hard disks (fixed disks): • Transport a large number of files • Back up important files or an entire internal hard disk (several external hard disk models allow you to back up simply by pushing a button on the disk) • Easily store large audio and video files • Secure your data; for example, at the end of a work session, remove the hard disk and lock it up, leaving no data in the computer • Add storage space to a notebook computer, including netbooks and Tablet PCs • Add storage space to a desktop computer without having to open the system unit or connect to a network

 These tiny hard disks have form factors of 1.8 inch, 1 inch, and 0.85 inch. External hard disks that are smaller in size and capacity, which also contain miniature hard disks, are sometimes called a pocket hard drive because they enable mobile users easily to transport photos and other files from one computer to another

A disk controller  consists of a special-purpose chip and electronic circuits that control the  transfer of data, instructions, and information from a disk to and from the system bus and other components in the computer.

Flash memory is a type of nonvolatile memory that can be erased  electronically and rewritten. Flash memory chips are a type of solid state media, which means they consist entirely of electronic components, such as integrated circuits, and contain no moving parts

A solid state drive (SSD) is a storage device that typically uses flash memory to store data, instructions, and information.

Memory cards enable mobile users easily to transport digital photos, music, or files to and from mobile devices and computers or other devices. 
A memory card is a removable flash memory device, usually no bigger than 1.5 inches in height or width, that you insert and remove from a slot in a computer, mobile device, or card reader/writer

A USB flash drive, sometimes called a thumb drive, is a flash memory storage device that plugs in a USB port on a computer or mobile device

An ExpressCard module is a removable device, about 75 mm long and 34 mm wide or L-shaped with a width of 54 mm, that fits in an ExpressCard slot (Figure 6-16). ExpressCard modules can be used to add memory, storage, communications, multimedia, and security capabilities to a computer. 

Cloud storage is an Internet service that provides hard disk storage to computer users.

An optical disc is a type of optical storage media that consists of a flat, round, portable disc made of metal, plastic, and lacquer.

A CD-ROM, or compact disc read-only memory, is a type of o ptical disc that users can read but not write (record) or erase — hence, the name read-only. 
A CD-R (compact disc-recordable) is a multisession optical disc on which users can write, but not erase, their own items such as text, graphics, and audio. 
A CD-RW (compact disc-rewritable) is an erasable multisession disc you can write on multiple times.

Many people use archive discs or Picture CDs to preserve their photos. When you post and share photos online on a photo sharing community, you can choose to save your collection of online  photos on an archive disc, which stores photos in the jpg file format.
A Kodak Picture CD stores digital versions of film using a jpg file format.

Although the size and shape of a CD and DVD are similar, a DVD stores data, instructions, and information in a slightly different manner and thus achieves a higher storage capacity. DVD quality also far surpasses that of CDs because images are stored at higher resolution.

Blu-ray, which is a  higher capacity and better quality than standard DVDs, especially for high-definition audio and video. A Blu-ray Disc (BD) has storage capacities of 100 GB, with expectations of exceeding 200 GB in the future.

Tape is a magnetically coated ribbon of plastic capable of storing large amounts of data and information at a low cost. 
A tape drive reads and writes data and information on a tape.

A magnetic stripe card is a credit card, entertainment card, bank card, or other  similar card, with a stripe that contains i nformation identifying you and the card.

A smart card, which is similar in size to a credit card or ATM card, stores data on a thin microprocessor embedded in the card. 

Microfilm and microfiche store microscopic images of documents on roll or sheet film. Microfilm is a 100- to 215-foot roll of film. Microfiche is a small sheet of film, usually about 4 3 6 inches

A large business, commonly referred to as an enterprise, has hundreds or thousands of employees in offices across the country or around the world. Enterprises use computers and computer networks to manage and store huge volumes of data and information about customers, suppliers, and employees. 

Storage holds data, instructions, and i nformation, which includes pictures, music, and videos, for future use. Users depend on storage devices to provide access to their storage media for years and decades to come. This chapter identified and discussed various storage media and storage devices. Storage media covered included internal hard disks; external and removable hard disks; solid state drives; memory cards; USB flash drives; ExpressCard modules; cloud storage; CDs, DVDs, and Blu-ray Discs; tape; smart cards; and microfilm and microfiche.