Which term refers to storage used for long-term storage of programs and data, slower than main memory?

Which term refers to storage used for long-term storage of programs and data, slower than main memory?

• A. Secondary Memory
• B. Output Device
• C. Cloud Storage
• D. Cookies

Answer: (A)

Long-term storage for programs and data is handled by secondary memory. This storage is non-volatile, meaning it retains information even when the computer is powered off, and it’s designed for large capacity, not speed. It’s slower to access than main memory (RAM), which is fast and volatile and holds data only while the computer is running. The operating system loads programs from secondary storage into RAM when they run and saves data back to secondary storage when you're done. Examples include hard drives and solid-state drives. Cloud storage, while also long-term, is external and accessed over a network, not the computer’s internal secondary storage, and cookies are small data files used by websites, not a storage medium for programs or files.

Long-term storage for programs and data is handled by secondary memory. This storage is non-volatile, meaning it retains information even when the computer is powered off, and it’s designed for large capacity, not speed. It’s slower to access than main memory (RAM), which is fast and volatile and holds data only while the computer is running. The operating system loads programs from secondary storage into RAM when they run and saves data back to secondary storage when you're done. Examples include hard drives and solid-state drives. Cloud storage, while also long-term, is external and accessed over a network, not the computer’s internal secondary storage, and cookies are small data files used by websites, not a storage medium for programs or files.