Final answer:
Non-volatile storage includes magnetic drives like HDDs, optical storage like CDs/DVDs, and solid-state drives (SSDs). HDDs use magnetic fields for data storage, CDs/DVDs store data as pits read by lasers, and SSDs use flash memory for faster access.
Step-by-step explanation:
Non-volatile storage drives are essential for storing data permanently, even without power. Major types include magnetic storage drives, like hard disk drives (HDDs), which use magnetic fields to store data. A HDD consists of a coated, spinning disk read by a stylus which translates the magnetic information into digital data, initially using the principle of induction but now utilizing giant magnetoresistance.
Another common type was optical storage, such as CDs and DVDs. Information is stored on these discs in the form of tiny pits and lands, with data read by a laser scattering light from the pits as the disc spins.
Solid-state drives (SSDs) are a more recent technology which uses flash memory to store data, without moving parts, providing faster read and write speeds compared to HDDs. These are becoming increasingly popular due to their speed and reliability.