What does "internal storage" mean?

Answer: Internal storage can mean several different things, but most often refers to a computer's internal hard drive. This is the primary storage device used to store a user's files and applications. If a computer has multiple internal hard drives, they are all considered part of the computer's internal storage.

Another popular type of internal storage is flash memory. It serves the same purpose as a hard drive, but stores data electronically rather than magnetically. Flash memory is the most common type of internal storage used by portable electronic devices, such as mobile phones and portable music players. Some computers now use flash drives rather than hard drives as well.

Internal storage can be contrasted with external storage, which includes devices such as external hard drives, network drives, and removable media, such as CDs and DVDs.

Published: July 5, 2010 — by Per Christensson