Any storage device that is immediately linked to a computer is referred to as DAS. HDDs, SSDs, and DVD disks are some examples. While DAS can apply to exterior devices like a hard disk, it most frequently characterizes outdoor ones.

To distinguish between direct-attached storage (DAS) and network-attached storage (NAS), the word "DAS" was developed. Direct-attached storage was the only choice prior to the development of NAS and storage area networks (SANs). Network and server managers frequently have to choose between DAS and NAS when looking for a storage option, even though DAS is still the most popular form of storage used in personal computing.

The ease of setting when compared to NAS is the main advantage of DAS. As long as the required drivers are present, a device can be connected to a computer and will automatically appear as an extra storage device. There is no requirement to set up rights for particular devices or adjust network settings. A direct-attached device can only be accessed by the computer to which it is connected, which is the primary disadvantage of DAS. Therefore, in order for other computers to view any attached DAS devices, a computer must be set up as a file server.