The primary differences between HDD (Hard Disk Drive) and SSD (Solid State Drive) are:
1. **Technology**:
- **HDD**: Uses spinning magnetic platters and read/write heads to store and access data. It’s a mechanical device with moving parts.
- **SSD**: Uses flash memory (NAND) to store data, similar to USB flash drives, with no moving parts.
2. **Speed**:
- **HDD**: Generally slower due to the mechanical movement required to read and write data.
- **SSD**: Faster because it has no moving parts and can access data more quickly.
3. **Durability**:
- **HDD**: More prone to physical damage from shocks or drops due to its moving parts.
- **SSD**: More durable and resistant to physical damage.
4. **Noise**:
- **HDD**: Can be noisy because of the spinning disks and moving read/write heads.
- **SSD**: Operates silently since it has no moving parts.
5. **Power Consumption**:
- **HDD**: Typically consumes more power due to mechanical operations.
- **SSD**: Consumes less power, which can lead to longer battery life in laptops.
6. **Cost**:
- **HDD**: Generally cheaper per gigabyte, making it more cost-effective for larger storage capacities.
- **SSD**: More expensive per gigabyte, though prices are steadily decreasing.
Overall, SSDs offer better performance and reliability, while HDDs can be more economical for storing large amounts of data.