Answer to Question #153269 in Programming & Computer Science for Ariel

Question

Why is data storage on a hard disk organised in cylinders?

Answer 1

It starts with the fact that the recording media is spinning. Thus a single track is a ring around the surface. That ring is broken up into sectors that can hold the data.

Adding a second recording media (underneath the platter) now makes two tracks, or rings. Also separated into sectors to hold data. This makes a cylinder, specially when a disk has more than one platter.