- External Computer Storage Options
- What Is External Storage On Android
- What Is External Storage Android
- What Is External Storage
Fast, portable, compatible storage that works with a wide range of systems in the form of an external SSD, and a computer with the latest internal SSD running your system. You can't have too much, upgrading the type and capacity of storage on your computer and devices is ultimately the right answer. External hard drives are small, nondescript boxes with extra storage that connect to your computer via one or more USB cables. While they may not look like much, they can be essential tools for keeping your files backed up, and they're ideal for transporting files that are too large to transfer over the internet.
What do smartphones, laptops, and smartwatches have in common? They all come with storage space to save system files, apps, and user data. Storage on Android phones is divided into two categories. External and internal storage. But what is the difference between external and internal storage? Which one should we use?
While most people think of external storage to be SD cards and external hard disks, that's not entirely true. Let's understand the true difference between these two types of storage and when they are used.
How Is Internal Storage Different from External Storage
External Computer Storage Options
The official Android documentation on storage gives us some guidance. When you install an app on your phone, it creates a unique private folder that only installed app can access. These files are stored in internal storage, which other apps or users cannot access.
Android system files are also stored in internal storage, which are not accessible to the user. You will either download an app or can root your smartphone to access these files.
There are two types of external storage. One is memory or SD cards that we insert manually. This is the most popular form of external memory that most smartphone users understand. By that definition, cloud storage like Dropbox is also external storage. That is called Secondary External Storage. So, what's primary?
Primary External Storage is one that is accessible by the user but still part of the built-in memory. That's where you store your photos, documents, and other data even though when you don't have an SD card installed. In short, your phone's built-in memory is divided into two parts. Internal and external. The SD card that you have installed can then be called removable external storage too.
Also on Guiding Tech How to Share/Access Your Android SD Card Files on Computer Over Wi-Fi Read MoreWhy Do Internal and External Matter
Internal storage is mostly used by Android OEM and app developers to store sensitive files and data. The objective here is to protect them from unintentional or accidental harm. But, there is more. Files stored inside directories created in internal storage are not accessible by other apps. That provides a much-needed layer of security and privacy to your data.
Files stored on Primary External Storage are accessible directly using the built-in file explorer app. Other apps are also able to access this data. That is where permissions come in. When an app wants to access this data, it will ask for permission to access the primary or secondary external storage. The app cannot access files stored in internal storage unless it belongs to the respective app.
But not all apps do it. Android ecosystem is known for many things, and somehow privacy fails to be the top concern. There have been numerous cases where apps were found guilty of stealing user data without permission or even users' knowledge. Toolkit all in one 2018 apk. In such instances, the importance of primary internal storage that is not accessible by other apps become all the more important.
Also on Guiding Tech Here's How You can Increase the Internal Storage in Android Read More3. Further Thoughts
We now know that internal storage is used for storing OS and app files that are not accessible by other apps. We also know that there are two types of external storage. Primary External storage is used to save data that is allowed to access by others. For example, app settings are stored in internal storage, but MP3 files that you download using the same app are stored in external storage (primary or secondary).
SD card is Secondary External Storage, but that is not part of the system. You can remove and can carry it with you wherever you want. You can also plug it directly into your laptop or other compatible devices. You can argue that a smartphone can be connected to the laptop too. But when you plug the smartphone via USB cable and mount the internal drive, you can only access the Primary and Secondary External Storage. Some users call Primary External Storage as in-built shared storage because it is part of the system but accessible by the user freely.
Some apps allow users to store data on the SD card. That offers flexibility to the user and more control over their data. When you uninstall an app, all data that is stored in the app folder is also deleted. Sometimes, not all data is deleted, or empty folders are left behind by apps. That can pile up over time, leading storage issues and system lags.
Many premium smartphones have removed SD card completely but instead, offer built-in memory in different memory configurations. These can start from 2GB and go all the way up to 512GB. That makes it even more necessary to divide the built-in memory into internal and external memory.
So, the next time you open Settings on your phone and go to Storage to check the space available, that's really Primary External Storage that is accessible by design. It's only called internal storage for the end-user can better distinguish between it and SD cards that they may have installed additionally.
Permissions, Permissions
It's all about control, permissions, privacy, and security. Here is the really short version. Internal Storage is for apps to save sensitive data, which denies read-write access to all other apps and users by default. Primary External Storage is part of built-in storage accessible by the user and other apps but often with permissions. Secondary External Storage is SD cards that are removable from the phone — a plug-n-play alternative.
Next up: Do you own a Xiaomi smartphone? Learn how to increase internal memory on any Xiaomi phone now.
The above article may contain affiliate links which help support Guiding Tech. However, it does not affect our editorial integrity. The content remains unbiased and authentic.
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In computing, external storage comprises devices that store information outside a computer. Such devices may be permanently attached to the computer, may be removable or may use removable media.
Types of external storage[edit]
Magnetic storage[edit]
Optical storage[edit]
Optical storage devices have media that use laser light technology for data storage and retrieval.
Compact disc[edit]
Types of Compact Discs (CDs) include:
- CD-ROM: (Compact Disc Read Only Memory) It can only be read through the drive. And are usually manufactured by in bulk by a stamp type system.
- CD-R: (Compact Disc Recordable) was invented in the 1990s. Using CD-R, it is possible to write data once on a disc at home without the stamping equipment required for CD-ROMs. These are considered write once, read many disks.
- CD-RW: (Compact Disc Re-Writable) same as the CD-R but can be erased and reused. There is a limit on how many times a CD-RW can be written. Presently this limit is 1000 times. CD-RW drives are compatible with CD-ROM and CD-R.
DVD[edit]
DVD stands for Digital Versatile Disc. Its speed is much faster than CD but not as fast as hard disk. The standard DVD-5 technology has a storage capacity of 4.7 GB per layer; most DVDs have a single layer but up to four layers are specified. Also DVD storage capacity changes with recording format.
Blu-ray[edit]
Blu-ray storage capacity is up to 50 gigabytes (or even 100 GB) of data.[1]The Blu-ray Disc (BD) is a digital optical disc format. It was originally created to take the place of the DVD format due to its expanded storage capacity. The name 'Blu-ray' is derived from the use of a blue laser that is used to read the disc. This would be in contrast to the red laser used to read DVD Discs.
M-DISC[edit]
M-Discs are available as DVD or Blu-ray discs.Flash memory devices[edit]
Memory card[edit]
What Is External Storage On Android
Memory cards are flash memory storage media used to store digital information in many electronics products. The types of memory cards include CompactFlash, PCMCIA, secure digital card, multimedia card, memory stick etc.
Memory stick[edit]
Sony introduced memory stick standard in 1998. Memory stick is an integrated circuit designed to serve as a storage and transfer medium for digital data. It can store data in various form as text, graphics, digital images etc. transfer of data is possible between devices having memory stick slots. Memory sticks are available in various storage sizes ranging from 4 MB to 64 MB. The dimensions of a memory stick are 50 mm long, 21.5 mm wide and 2.8 mm thick (in case of pro format). The transfer speed of memory stick is 160 Mbit/s.
USB drives[edit]
Logic pro 9 sequencer. A USB flash drive, also variously known as a, thumb drive, pen drive, jump drive, disk key, disk on key, flash-drive, memory stick or USB memory,[a] is a data storage device that includes flash memory with an integrated USB interface
References[edit]
What Is External Storage Android
- ^'Blu-ray Disc for Data'. Blu-ray Disc Association. Blu-ray Disc Association (BDA). Retrieved 27 September 2015.
What Is External Storage
