Data storage is the process of recording and storing information in various mediums like DNA, handwritten notes, phonographic recordings, magnetic tapes, and optical discs. It can be achieved using different forms of energy. Electronic data storage requires electrical power for storing and retrieving data. When data is stored in a digital, machine-readable medium, it is often referred to as digital data. Computer data storage is a fundamental function of general-purpose computers.

One advantage of electronic documents is that they can be stored in much less space compared to paper documents. Barcodes and magnetic ink character recognition (MICR) are two methods of recording machine-readable data on paper.

NVM Express (NVMe) devices are commonly available as standard-sized PCI Express expansion cards and 2.5-inch form-factor devices with a four-lane PCI Express interface through the U.2 connector. SATA Express and the M.2 specification also support NVMe as the logical device interface. These devices have gained popularity as a dominant form of solid-state storage for desktops and laptops.