Random IO
Data is scatter, non sequential that we need to keep performing disk seeks to read and write the data
| Feature | Sequential I/O | Random I/O |
|---|---|---|
| Pattern | Reading a book page by page. | Flipping through a book for specific words. |
| Movement | The disk head stays mostly still. | The disk head "seeks" (jumps) constantly. |
| Speed (HDD) | Fast (High throughput). | Very Slow (High latency). |
| Best For | Watching a movie, copying a large zip file. | Running an OS, databases, many small files. |