A 2.5-inch hard drive is a type of storage device commonly used in laptops and portable external drives. Its name refers to the physical size of the drive, which is 2.5 inches wide. These drives can store large amounts of data, typically ranging from hundreds of gigabytes to several terabytes, making them suitable for various applications, including file storage and operating systems. Unlike larger 3.5-inch hard drives, which are often used in desktop computers, 2.5-inch drives are designed for mobility and efficiency. They connect to computers via interfaces like SATA or USB, allowing for easy data transfer and backup.