What does RAID stand for in storage technology?

RAID stands for Redundant Array of Independent Disks. This term accurately reflects the technology’s primary purpose: to combine multiple physical disk drive components into a single logical unit for improved performance, redundancy, and reliability. The use of the word "array" indicates that multiple independent disks work together. The emphasis on "redundant" signifies that data is mirrored or distributed across the disks in such a way that if one disk fails, the data can still be accessed from another disk in the array.

This definition is key to understanding both the function and advantages of RAID configurations, such as increased speed due to parallel data access and improved data integrity through redundancy. Other interpretations of the acronym do not capture these crucial aspects of RAID technology, making them less accurate.