Which statement about solid-state media is true?

Which statement about solid-state media is true?

• A. No moving parts, robust, but finite read/write cycles
• B. Uses magnetic spinning disks to store data
• C. Has unlimited write cycles and is always cheap
• D. Requires constant power to retain data

Answer: (A)

Solid-state media store data in flash memory with no moving parts. That lack of moving components makes them robust and fast because there’s no mechanical search or transfer needed to access data. At the same time, flash memory has a finite number of times you can rewrite a cell. Each write slightly wears the cell, so the total number of writes over the life of the device is limited. Techniques like wear leveling help spread wear evenly and extend the lifespan, but the limit isn’t infinite. This combination—no moving parts plus wear-limited write cycles—fits what SSDs actually do, making the statement true. The other points don’t fit: spinning magnetic disks rely on moving parts, so they aren’t solid-state; flash memory doesn’t have unlimited write cycles and SSDs aren’t inherently always cheap; and solid-state memory retains data without needing constant power, so the claim about power to retain data is incorrect.

Solid-state media store data in flash memory with no moving parts. That lack of moving components makes them robust and fast because there’s no mechanical search or transfer needed to access data. At the same time, flash memory has a finite number of times you can rewrite a cell. Each write slightly wears the cell, so the total number of writes over the life of the device is limited. Techniques like wear leveling help spread wear evenly and extend the lifespan, but the limit isn’t infinite. This combination—no moving parts plus wear-limited write cycles—fits what SSDs actually do, making the statement true.

The other points don’t fit: spinning magnetic disks rely on moving parts, so they aren’t solid-state; flash memory doesn’t have unlimited write cycles and SSDs aren’t inherently always cheap; and solid-state memory retains data without needing constant power, so the claim about power to retain data is incorrect.