SSD (solid-state drive)
Also known as: solid-state drive, solid state drive, what is an SSD
An SSD (solid-state drive) stores data on flash memory chips with no moving parts, so it reads and writes far faster than a spinning hard drive. SSDs are the standard internal storage in phones, tablets, and modern laptops, prized for speed, silence, and shock resistance.
- Stores data on flash chips with no moving parts
- Much faster than a hard drive; costs more per GB
- Standard internal storage in phones and modern laptops
How an SSD works
An SSD holds your data in NAND flash memory — the same kind of chip used in memory cards and USB sticks — instead of on the magnetic platters a hard drive spins. With no read/write head to move, an SSD reaches data almost instantly, which is why a computer that boots and opens apps quickly is almost always running on one.
SSDs also run silently, use less power, and survive drops better than mechanical drives because nothing inside is spinning. Laptop and desktop SSDs come in shapes like 2.5-inch SATA and the smaller, faster M.2 NVMe stick.
Speed, lifespan, and cost
Compared with a hard drive, an SSD is dramatically faster for everyday tasks and noticeably more expensive per gigabyte, though prices have fallen for years. For most people the speed is worth it, which is why new laptops and all phones ship with flash-based storage.
Flash cells wear out after many write cycles, but modern SSDs spread writes evenly and last for many years of normal use. A nearly full SSD can also slow down, so leaving some free space helps keep it fast.