Final answer:
Optical storage devices such as CD-ROM use lasers to read and write data, unlike HDDs, SSDs, and USB flash drives which use magnetic and electronic storage mechanisms.
Step-by-step explanation:
The type of drive that is considered an optical storage device is C. CD-ROM (Compact Disc Read-Only Memory). Optical storage devices use lasers and lights to read and write data. Traditional optical storage formats include CDs, DVDs, and Blu-ray discs. The data on a CD, for example, is represented by tiny pits and land areas on its surface. A laser beam interprets the reflected light from these pits and lands as digital information.
It's different from HDDs and SSDs in that HDDs store data magnetically on rotating discs, while SSDs use flash memory without moving parts. Unlike USB flash drives, which also use flash memory, optical discs require special drives that can read the modulation of the reflected laser light. ices