A hard drive is a non-volatile storage device that stores and retrieves digital data using magnetic storage and rotating platters. It is typically installed inside a computer or laptop and provides a significant amount of storage space for various files, including documents, images, videos, and software applications.

The data is read and written by a read/write head, which moves across the platters as they spin. Hard drives come in different sizes and storage capacities, usually ranging from a 1TB to several terabytes. They are a common storage option for desktop computers and laptops, although they are gradually being replaced by faster and more efficient solid-state drives (SSDs).