Which component holds all of a computer's data including music, pictures, and applications?

The hard drive is the component responsible for storing all of a computer's data, including music, pictures, applications, and other types of files. It acts as the primary permanent storage device within the system. Hard drives can be either traditional spinning disk drives (HDD) or solid-state drives (SSD), both of which serve the same fundamental purpose of retaining data even when the computer is powered off.

In contrast, the CPU (central processing unit) is the brain of the computer, executing instructions and processing data, but it does not store data long-term. RAM (random access memory) is used for temporary data storage while programs are running, providing fast access to data in use; however, any data stored in RAM is lost once the computer is turned off. The motherboard serves as the main circuit board that connects various components of the computer, such as the CPU, RAM, and storage devices, but it does not directly hold the data itself. Thus, the hard drive is essential for keeping data intact and accessible over time.