Connecting and accessing storage devices outside a computer’s internal drive is essential for expanding storage capacity and working with portable data. In Linux-based systems, this process involves making the file system of an external drive accessible to the operating system. This action logically connects the device to a specific directory within the system’s file hierarchy, making its data readily available.
This procedure provides a crucial bridge between the operating system and removable media, enabling users to interact with data stored on external hard drives, USB flash drives, and other devices. Without this connection, the operating system cannot interpret or access the data on these external devices. It’s a foundational concept that has evolved alongside the growth of removable storage technologies, from floppy disks to the high-capacity external drives common today.