Areal density is a measure of the quantity of information
bits that can be stored on a given length of
track, area of
surface, or in a given
volume of a
computer storage medium. Generally, higher density is more desirable, for it allows greater volumes of data to be stored in the same physical space. Density therefore has a direct relationship to storage capacity of a given medium. Density also generally has a fairly direct effect on the performance within a particular medium, as well as price.