Final answer:
An HDD stands for Hard Disk Drive and is classified as hardware; it is a data storage device that uses magnetic storage to store and retrieve information and is an essential component of a computer system.
Step-by-step explanation:
The subject in question is an HDD, which stands for Hard Disk Drive. This is a data storage device that uses magnetic storage to store and retrieve digital information using one or more rigid rapidly rotating disks coated with magnetic material. HDDs are a key component in computers for storing operating systems, software programs, and other files.
An HDD would be classified as option a) Hardware because it is a tangible component of a computer system and serves as the primary storage medium. As depicted in the image, a typical hard drive has a metallic component that is essential for its function. Data on a hard drive is organized in tracks and sectors where a read/write head moves to access the data magnetically encoded on the disk platters.
An external hard drive, functions on the same principles as an internal HDD but is connected to the computer via external ports. The ability of the hard drive to function through magnetically encoded information is central to its operation and the overall functionality of digital devices.