Computer Concept Courses (CCC) Practice Test 2026 - Free Practice Questions and Study Guide

The correct choice is nonvolatile devices, as these are essential for the permanent storage of instructions and data within computer systems. Nonvolatile storage retains information even when the power is turned off, making it ideal for storing the operating system, software applications, and user data that must persist beyond a single session.

For instance, hard drives, solid-state drives (SSDs), and flash memory are all examples of nonvolatile storage. They allow users to save and access information reliably over time, without the risk of losing data due to power loss.

In contrast, volatile devices, like RAM, do not retain data when the power is off, making them unsuitable for long-term storage. Temporary storage refers to any data that is held only during a session, which is often stored in memory rather than in a permanent location. Auxiliary storage, while it can refer to additional storage options, does not specifically denote the permanence of data retention as effectively as nonvolatile does.