The read/write heads of the hard disk are the interface between the magnetic physical
media on which the data is stored and the electronic components that make up the rest of
the hard disk (and the PC). The heads do the work of converting bits to magnetic pulses
and storing them on the platters, and then reversing the process when the data needs to be
read back.
Read/write heads are an extremely critical component in determining the overall
performance of the hard disk, since they play such an important role in the storage and
retrieval of data. They are usually one of the more expensive parts of the hard disk, and
to enable areal densities and disk spin speeds to increase, they have had to evolve from
rather humble, clumsy beginnings to being extremely advanced and complicated technology.
New head technologies are often the triggering point to increasing the speed and size of
modern hard disks.
Next: Read/Write
Head Operation
