by 
The Curious Bag
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In recent years, computer technology has been moving away from "mechanical" data storage devices to "flash" memory. This transition comes with some interesting advantages, but the word "flash" requires some explanation.
Flash Technology
In a nutshell, flash memory does not have any moving parts, unlike a standard mechanical hard drive. It is similar to your computer's RAM (Random Access Memory, which is a temporary area for rapid storage and retrieval of data).
Flash Behavior
The chief difference is that, unlike RAM, the data in flash memory is not erased (or "cleared") when the computer's power is turned off.
Flash Advantages
Having no moving parts means the device can last longer, in theory, uses less electricity, and operates silently. Its lack of moving parts is where the term "solid state drive" or "SSD" comes from. But flash memory's main advantage is its sheer performance speed.
Latency
While a mechanical drive can seek and write data on its disk fairly quickly, a flash drive has very low latency, which is a measure of how fast the drive can transmit data to other processing areas of the computer.
Other Uses
Sometimes, the term "flash drive" can also refer to an external USB (Universal Serial Bus) "thumb" drive, which is about the size of a cigarette lighter.
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