What is the term for the part of a computer that permanently stores data?

The term for the part of a computer that permanently stores data is the hard drive. This component is designed specifically for long-term data storage, meaning the information remains accessible even when the computer is turned off. Hard drives can store various types of data, including operating systems, applications, and user files, making them essential for a computer's overall function.

In contrast, RAM (Random Access Memory) is temporary storage that holds data only while the computer is powered on. Cache is a smaller, faster type of volatile memory that stores frequently accessed data to speed up processes, but it does not retain information when the computer is off. The CPU (Central Processing Unit) is the computer's processor that executes instructions but does not function as a storage device in terms of retaining data permanently. Thus, the hard drive is correctly identified as the component responsible for permanent data storage.