What technology do magnetic hard drives use to store data?

Magnetic hard drives utilize magnetic platters as their primary technology for data storage. These platters are coated with a magnetic material that allows data to be recorded and retrieved through magnetic fields. When data is written to the drive, the read/write head alters the magnetization of the surface of the platters to represent binary data. During reading operations, the head detects this magnetization to extract the stored information. This technology is fundamental to traditional hard disk drives (HDDs) and enables large volumes of data to be stored efficiently and cost-effectively.

Other options refer to different technologies: Flash memory is used in solid-state drives (SSDs) and other devices for storing data electronically without moving parts. Optical discs employ laser technology and physical pits on the discs to read and write data, which is fundamentally different from the magnetic method used in hard drives. SSD chips are a form of flash storage that uses integrated circuits for data storage, whereas magnetic platters utilize rotating disks to access the data through mechanical means. Each of these technologies serves different purposes and has unique characteristics, but only magnetic platters are the defining feature of magnetic hard drives.