cylinder

storage The set of tracks on a multi-headed disk that

may be accessed without head movement. That is, the

collection of disk tracks which are the same distance from the

spindle about which the disks rotate. Each such group forms

the shape of a cylinder. Placing data that are likely to be

accessed together in cylinders reduces the access

significantly as head movement (seeking) is slow compared to

disk rotation and switching between heads.

(1997-07-15)