2/3/2025
Yo! I use USB drives all the time but lowkey have no idea how they work, like… magic??
LOL not magic, just cool tech! Let’s unpack it. First—they use *flash memory* (solid-state, no moving parts) to store data. No spinning disks like old hard drives!
And there’s a tiny *controller chip* inside that acts like a brain 🧠It manages reading/writing data when you plug it in.
Wait so when I drag a file into the drive, what’s *actually* happening?
Great qyestion! The controller chip organizes the data into blocks on the flash memory. It’s like a librarian sorting books but way faster ⚡
And when you unplug? The data stays cuz flash memory is *non-volatile* (fancy way of saying it doesn’t need power to remember stuff).
But why are they so
indestructible?
I’ve dropped mine so many times lol
HAHA same 😂 It’s the lack of moving parts! No delicate disks or motors
just chips and circuits
still, don’t test its limits
makes sense
And why do they work on *any* computer? Like Mac, Windows, etc?
The USB standard is universal
The controller chip translates data into a format any OS can read. Plug n’ play magic ✨
So it’s basically a pocket-sized librarian + vault? 🤔
Nailed it!
Digital treasure chest with a brain
Also, they’ve gotten *wildly* cheap over time, you’re paying for convenience
TYSM! Now I’ll flex this knowledge next time someone borrows my drive 😤
Yasss Knowledge is power! (Also… don’t lose it—encrypt sensitive stuff 🔒) Happy file-hoarding! 📂