The key difference between SSDs (Solid State Drives) and HDDs (Hard Disk Drives) lies in their data storage technology. SSDs use flash memory to store data, allowing for substantially faster read/write speeds, lower latency, and increased durability due to a lack of moving parts. In contrast, HDDs rely on spinning magnetic disks, making them slower and more susceptible to physical damage. Although HDDs generally provide more storage capacity at lower costs, SSDs offer improved performance, making them the preferred choice for modern computing tasks.