random access
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Random access is the ability to retrieve data from any location in a storage device without reading through preceding data.
A book offers random access—you can flip to any page—while a cassette tape requires sequential access, fast-forwarding through everything before your target.
Computer memory (RAM) and hard drives provide random access: Random access makes database queries fast.
Temporary data storage hardware
- memoryMind's retention capacity
- storageSpace for keeping goods
- addressableAble to be contacted
- seek timeDelay moving read head
non-sequential · virtual memory · paging · buffer · register · latency · file system · memory address
Ordered collection or display
- hash tableKeyed lookup structure
- indexAlphabetical guide to contents
- lookupAct of retrieving information
- databaseOrganized digital information collection
query · fetch · retrieve · linked list · vector · dictionary · key-value · search
Computer's internal storage device
- SSDChip-based storage device
- CD-ROMOptical storage medium
- DVDOptical media format
- Blu-rayHigh-definition optical media
flash memory · USB drive · SD card · NAND · RAID · optical disc · microSD · floppy disk
RAM
Temporary data storage hardware
- memoryMind's retention capacity
- storageSpace for keeping goods
- addressableAble to be contacted
seek time · non-sequential · virtual memory · paging · buffer · register · latency · file system · memory address · pointer
array
Ordered collection or display
- hash tableKeyed lookup structure
- indexAlphabetical guide to contents
- lookupAct of retrieving information
database · query · fetch · retrieve · linked list · vector · dictionary · key-value · search · subscript
hard drive
Computer's internal storage device
Blu-ray · flash memory · USB drive · SD card · NAND · RAID · optical disc · microSD · floppy disk · sector
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