What does RAID stand for and what is its purpose?

RAID stands for Redundant Array of Independent Disks, and its primary purpose is to enhance both performance and fault tolerance in data storage systems. By combining multiple disk drives into a single unit, RAID can improve read and write speeds due to parallel data processing. Additionally, the redundancy aspect means that data is duplicated across several disks, so if one drive fails, the system can still function and maintain data integrity. This combination of performance enhancement and data protection makes RAID a critical technology in environments where reliability and speed are essential. Other options introduce terms and concepts that do not accurately reflect the role of RAID in data management.