External storage

(computer science) Large-capacity, slow-access data storage attached to a digital computer and used to store information that exceeds the capacity of main storage.

Typically refers to hard disks, optical discs and magnetic tape drives that are outside of the computer's cabinet. It may also refer to online storage on the Internet. See online storage.

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The noun has one meaning:

Meaning #1: a data storage device that is not the main memory of a computer
  Synonyms: auxiliary storage, secondary storage

External storage is any device that temporarily stores information for transporting from computer to computer. These devices are not permanently fixed inside a computer.

Types of external storage devices include punched cards, cassette tapes, floppy disks, Zip disks, CDs, DVDs, microforms, memory cards, memory spot chips, and memory sticks.

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