A type of external housing designed to protect and interface a bare hard disk drive with a computer through a connection like USB or Thunderbolt allows for convenient portable storage or the repurposing of old internal drives. For instance, a 3.5-inch internal drive can be placed within such a housing and connected to a laptop via USB, effectively functioning as an external hard drive.
These devices offer a practical solution for expanding storage capacity, creating backups, and transporting large files. Historically, external storage solutions were significantly more expensive and less flexible. This technology provides a cost-effective method for adapting to increasing storage demands. The ease of use also contributes to more efficient data management practices for both individuals and businesses.