access time

Access time is the total duration it takes for a computer to retrieve data from storage. It includes the time to locate the data (seek time), the time to position the read/write head or locate the area (latency), and the actual time to transfer the data. Faster access times mean data can be retrieved more quickly, improving overall system performance. For example, solid-state drives (SSDs) have quicker access times than traditional hard drives, providing faster response and data retrieval. Understanding access time helps in evaluating how efficiently a storage device can deliver data when needed.