Access Time Definition

Access time is the time that the computer takes in order for it to locate and retrieve data that is located on a storage device such as a hard disk drive (HDD) or even a solid-state drive (SSD). Of particular note concerning access time is that it is measured in nanoseconds or even milliseconds. It is regarded that a shorter access time is preferable as it means the system can meet the request quicker.

As a matter of fact, the relativity of the access time might be in parameters such as the type of a storage device, the performance of the processor of the computer, the amount of a random-access memory (RAM), and the workload of the computer among others. Optimizing access time is one of the ways to make the computer’s operations more efficient.