Mechanical storage devices are hardware components that store data using physical mechanisms. The most common types include hard disk drives (HDDs) and floppy disks. These devices use spinning disks coated with magnetic material to read and write data, making them suitable for large amounts of information. Unlike solid-state drives (SSDs), which use flash memory, mechanical storage devices have moving parts, which can make them slower and more prone to wear over time. However, they often provide a cost-effective solution for data storage, especially for large files and backups, due to their higher storage capacities at lower prices.