how do thumb drives work?
In: 2
Thumb Drive = USB Hardware + Flash Drive
Flash Drive = Flash Memory + Storage Controller
USB Hardware = USB Port + USB Controller
Flash Memory: Most modern flash memory is NAND flash ie. data stored using NAND gates, [read about them here](https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/14j34o4/eli5_how_are_logic_gates_made/).
Storage Controller: A tiny processor that controls storing and retrieving data in the memory.
USB controller: Interfaces with the storage controller to convert USB instructions to and from the language used by the storage controller. Presents the drive to the host as a USB Mass Storage Device class.
USB Port: Connects to the host device (the PC).
The operating system on the host device then interfaces with the USB using its generic drivers for talking to USB Mass Storage Device class devices, presenting the device as a drive with a file system for the user to interact with.
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