Write Amplification

Write Amplification refers to a phenomenon in data storage where the amount of data actually written by the storage system is greater than the amount of data the user intended to write. This often occurs in solid-state drives (SSDs) and flash memory because of their need to erase larger blocks of data before new data can be written. As a result, a small change can lead to more data being rewritten, which can reduce the lifespan of the storage medium and impact performance. Reducing write amplification is important for optimizing storage efficiency and durability.