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Partition

pc

A partition is a logical division of storage space on a hard disk drive (HDD) or solid-state drive (SSD).

expanded

Partitions organize the available storage on a drive into distinct sections, each capable of functioning as a separate volume with its file system. This allows for more efficient file management, data segmentation, and multi-boot configurations where different operating systems can reside on a single physical disk.

examples

A 1 TB HDD partitioned into a 256 GB segment for the operating system and a 744 GB segment for user data.

This setup is common in dual-boot environments where users run both Linux and Windows on the same machine.

A 512 GB SSD with a 128 GB recovery partition and the remaining space allocated for primary use.

Used in laptops to offer quick access to recovery tools while maximizing available space for applications and files.

related terms

Storage
Storage refers to the component or device used to store digital data within a computer system.
Boot drive
A boot drive is the storage device from which a computer loads its operating system at startup.
Format
The process of preparing a data storage device for use and setting up a file system.
Hard Disk Drive (HDD)
A Hard Disk Drive (HDD) is a data storage device that uses magnetic storage to retrieve and store digital information using one or more rigid rapidly rotating disks (platters) coated with magnetic material.
Solid State Drive (SSD)
A non-volatile storage device that uses integrated circuit assemblies to store data persistently.