Difference between Hard Disk and Hard Drive

Key Difference: The difference between the two is simply a technical difference. The term ‘hard disk’ is derived from the metal platter or metal CD is that is mounted, which is responsible for storing the data. Now, the hard drive section is simply the actuator, actuator arm, actuator axis, spindle and the head. These parts combined are used to read and write the data on the metal platter.

It is not uncommon knowledge that originally computers used to be huge and bulky and as time passed and technology improved, the size of the computers have reduced. From bulky large frame computers to the laptops that are available today, the reduction is size is most commonly attributed to the smaller size of the hard disk drive that used to read and write data on the device.

The Hard Disk Drives, also known as HDDs, were introduced in 1956 by IBM and quickly dominated the market as a secondary storage device. From its introduction, the HDDs have constantly been modified and improved and have maintained this position into the modern era of storage devices.

The actual term for these storage devices combine the two terms that are mentioned above: Hard Disk Drive or HDD. The reason for that is both the technologies are now combined in a single device. The difference between the two is simply a technical difference. Today, the both the term hard disk and hard drive are often used interchangeably to refer to the HDD.

The way a modern HDD is designed includes a metal platter, spindle, head, actuator, actuator arm, actuator axis, power connector, jumper block and IDE connector. The term ‘hard disk’ is derived from the metal platter or metal CD is that is mounted, which is responsible for storing the data. Now, the hard drive section is simply the actuator, actuator arm, actuator axis, spindle and the head. These parts combined are used to read and write the data on the metal platter. These make up the hard drive – or the technology that helps read the data on the device.

The reason for the differences in the name exists because initially when HDDs were the size of refrigerators, the hard disk and the hard drive were separate from each other. The disks would need to be put into the drive in order for them to be read. Something like a CD is need to put into a CD drive in order for it to be read. However, today the technologies are commonly found together in a hard disk drive.

Comparison between Hard Disk and Hard Drive:

	Hard Disk	Hard Drive
Definition	A hard disk is a storage device which consists of a metal platters that are coated with a magnetic material	The thing moving the storage media, similar to a floppy drive. This helps read and write the data on to the drive
What is it?	A storage device	The method with which the data is written onto the device
Comprises	A magnetic material coated disk that stores data	A moving actuator arm with magnetic heads arranged on it to read and write data to the Hard Disk surface
Real world	Hard disks are now available with hard drives	Hard drives are now available with hard disks