What is a defining feature of magnetic storage devices compared to optical storage devices?

Magnetic storage devices, such as hard drives and magnetic tapes, are known for their ability to store data in larger capacities compared to optical storage devices, like CDs, DVDs, and Blu-ray discs. This capacity advantage is largely due to the density at which magnetic media can record data. Magnetic storage uses magnetic fields to record information on rotating disks, allowing for more bits to be packed into a given volume compared to the physical structure of optical discs, which rely on pits and lands for data encoding.

While optical storage can be efficient for certain applications and provides reasonable lifespan and durability, it is generally limited in terms of maximum storage capacity when compared to magnetic media. Hence, for situations where large amounts of data need to be stored, magnetic storage is often the preferred choice.

Options suggesting that magnetic storage is made of plastic, uses light for data storage, or is universally readable lack the necessary details that define the operational principles and inherent advantages of magnetic storage over optical storage. This focus on capacity helps underline why magnetic storage is typically chosen for more extensive data applications.