SSD Meaning: What It Means and How to Use It

Have you ever wondered what the word SSD actually means? Here’s a complete guide to the meaning of SSD and how to use it in a sentence.

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You may have heard some of your tech-savvy friends throw around the word SSD. Maybe you’re into video games and have heard it when talking about the new console or a person’s PC build. 

Sometimes it can be awkward to ask what a word means when you don’t know and somebody is speaking so confidently about it. But don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. 

Today’s word of the day is SSD. Here’s a complete guide to SSD, complete with definitions, a history, and more. After reading it, you’ll have a great understanding of this word and how to use it. 

What Is the Definition of SSD? 

SSD is an acronym that has several meanings. There is one definition that is the most predominant, but a couple of others are worth mentioning as well. The first and most popular acronym for SSD is “solid-state drive.” Here is a definition of solid-state drive:

  • A high-performance data storage device for a computer that operates by accessing data using flash memory for increased speed and loading times. 

Solid-state drives are most commonly compared to hard disk drives or HDDs. HDDs have a spinning platter powered by an actuator and a mechanical arm called a read-write head that reaches a specific part of the platter to read the data. SSDs don’t have any moving parts. They operate digitally, so they can access data much faster than HDDs.  

Compared to HDDs, SSDs have lower latency, greater energy efficiency, faster transfer speeds, a longer lifespan, better input/output, no need for defragmentation, and greater overall bandwidth. SSD wins hands down whether you’re on a PC or a Mac when it comes to the SSD vs. HDD debate. HDDs have easier data recovery, but that’s about it. 

Other Definitions of SSD

Another use for the acronym SSD is to stand for “social security disability.” This is in reference to a government program in the United States. Here’s the definition of social security disability:

  • A social welfare program in the United States that provides supplemental income to people with disabilities who meet certain qualifications. 

Social security disability is paid for with taxes collected from workers, employers, and the self-employed. Various requirements must be met for a person to qualify, but this social safety net for the disabled is an important welfare program in the U.S.  

Where Did the Word SSD Come From?  

Each version of SSD comes with a unique history and origin. Let’s break down the history of each definition.

Solid State Drive

The technology for solid-state drives since the 1970s. It took a while, but the first SSD ever put on the market came in 1976. It had only 2MB of memory and cost a whopping $9,700. In these early days, the technology wasn’t practical and far too expensive, so it was only used in supercomputers for companies like IBM. 

Flash memory chips were discovered in the next decade, and Toshiba and Western Digital released flash-based SSDs in the late 1980s. In 1991, SanDisk released a version that retailed for about $1000. Since then, SSD technology has vastly improved, making the products more affordable than ever. Today, SSD prices have gone way down, with large storage space and even terabytes of data available at prices that won’t break the bank.

Solid-state storage now uses a version of non-volatile memory called NAND flash memory. It makes them an incredibly fast drive and a very safe place to store your data, firmware, operating system, and more. Today, m SATA SSDs are basically in all new consumer devices, mobile devices, laptops, and small computer systems because of their smaller form factors. They speed up our data everywhere. 

In 2012, the successor to m SATA SSDs came forth. The M.2 SSD drives utilized NVMe (non-volatile memory express) technology to make PCI Express (PCIe) SSDs. These NVMe SSDs furthered SSD technology greatly and made it the industry standard. Indeed, the specification that has been taken with this technology is significant.

It is unclear when the first use of the SSD acronym was, but we do know that the acronym was in use by the 1980s.

Social Security Disability

Social Security Disability was first created in 1956 when president Eisenhower signed the Social Security Amendments of 1956. The program had several limitations and restrictions in the beginning and has since grown in the number of people it can serve. 

It is unclear when people began to use the acronym SSD to refer to social security disability, but the term is still in use today.

What Are Some Examples of SSD in a Sentence? 

Here are a few examples of sentences where SSD is used. We’ve provided sentences for each definition of SSD. 

Referring to Solid-State Drives

My wife and I bought external SSDs for our laptops, and now we have a bigger, faster storage capacity.

Hardly any tech manufacturers, not Microsoft, Intel, or Samsung, use the slow spinning disks of HDDs anymore. SSDs are no longer just high-end. They’re the mainstream!

When I got an SSD, my computer had faster data transfer, faster write speeds, and 500 more gigabytes than I had before. 

Do you know if my new SSD will be compatible with my old motherboard?

Referring to Social Security Disability

After my accident, I had an incredibly hard time working, so I applied for SSD.

The SSD has been keeping me afloat. Without it, my disability would have caused me to go bankrupt. 

Referring to Services for Students With Disabilities

When I connected with SSD, they made sure I had access to books in brail so I could read what I needed to for my classes. 

I registered for SSD, and the first thing they did was make sure that I had a bigger dorm room to accommodate my wheelchair. 

SSD and All Its Meanings

There are dozens of other niche definitions that SSD has. These are just a few of the most prominent ones. And now you know everything you need to know about this acronym and the impact its definitions have had on the world. Use it in your writing, your conversation, and more. 

And if you need a refresher on anything, come back and read this article to get that information.

Sources

  1. 1986 Disability History Report | Social Security 
  2. Anatomy of a Solid-state Drive | ACM (Association for Computing Machinery) Queue 
  3. Solid State Drive | an overview | ScienceDirect Topics