How does an SSD differ from a traditional magnetic hard drive?

An SSD, or Solid State Drive, differs from a traditional magnetic hard drive (HDD) primarily because it uses flash memory technology to store data. This means that an SSD has no moving parts, which significantly contributes to its speed. The absence of mechanical components allows SSDs to access data almost instantly, resulting in much faster boot times, quicker file transfers, and overall improved system performance compared to hard drives that rely on spinning disks and read/write heads.

Additionally, the lack of moving parts not only enhances speed but also increases durability and reliability, as SSDs are less susceptible to physical shock and damage. This makes them an excellent choice for portable devices and environments where failure risks are higher. In contrast, traditional magnetic hard drives use magnetic disks to read and write data, which inherently involves movement and can lead to wear over time.

The other options do not accurately characterize the nature of SSDs compared to HDDs, particularly in terms of speed, power consumption, and physical size.