Storage is where your files and data are stored long-term. Without it, your computer would not be able to save files, documents, music, etc. There are two main types of storage drives, HDDs and SSDs, each with their own pros and cons. Another important factor in choosing the correct storage is knowing how much you will need.
When purchasing a computer, it's important to make sure you have enough storage in your computer so that you will not run out easily. Without enough storage, you will frequently need to remove files and applications to clear room for new files. For a casual user 256GB of storage should work well and should be the bare minimum amount for any user. 512GB of storage should be more than enough for most people, except for those that frequently use their computer. For gaming, video editing, or rendering, more than 512GB should be beneficial. 1TB of storage will be good for those users. This is because newer gaming applications tend to take up large amount of storage, some even being 100GB+ per game! Those that are editing or rendering may need many assests saved to their device at all times, and finished products may also be very large, so having a minimum of 1TB of storage would be good for more experienced users.
Hard Disk Drives (HDDs) are a very common and cost-effective way of storage. HDDs are much slower than SSDs, leading to their lower cost. However, this makes them great for larger storage. It will be much cheaper to get high amounts of storage with HDDs than with SSDs. The largest drawback of HDDs is their significantly slower speeds. If using an HDD as your only drive, your computer will have much longer load times for files or applications. HDDs should only be used as primary storage if on a budget. Otherwise, HDDs excel in being a secondary storage option, especially for those who may be storing large amounts of videos or music.
Solid State Drives (SSDs) are overall a much better option for nearly all users, so much so that it could be considered a requirement as a part of your new computer (unless under a tight budget). Even so, the price gap of HDDs and SSDs has gradually gotten smaller over the years, meaning it is only slightly more money to purchase an SSD of the same size as a HDD. This additional investment is well worth your money, as it will lead to significantly faster loading times for files than a HDD. Overall, an SSD is highly likely the type of storage you will want in your computer.