The type of storage device most affected by fragmentation is a magnetic storage device, specifically Hard Disk Drives (HDDs).

Explanation:

Magnetic Storage Devices (HDDs): These use spinning disks and a read/write head that moves to different locations on the disk. As files are saved and deleted, they can become fragmented, meaning that parts of the same file are stored in different locations on the disk. This can slow down access times as the drive has to seek out multiple locations to read a single file.

Solid-state Drives (SSDs): These use flash memory and have no moving parts. While fragmentation can occur, it has less impact on performance because SSDs can access data from any location on the drive almost instantly. SSDs manage fragmentation internally to minimize any performance impact.

Optical and Laser Storage: Devices like CDs, DVDs, and Blu-ray discs are read from a static surface and are not affected by fragmentation in the way HDDs are.

In summary, HDDs are the storage devices most notably affected by fragmentation.

Magnetic storage devices can be affected by fragmentation.

Magnetic Storage: This includes traditional Hard Disk Drives (HDDs). Fragmentation occurs when files are divided into pieces scattered across the disk. Over time, this can lead to slower performance as the drive has to work harder to access fragmented files.

Solid-state Drives (SSDs): These are less affected by fragmentation compared to magnetic storage because they do not rely on spinning disks or moving read/write heads. They use flash memory, which allows for faster and more efficient data access regardless of where data is stored.

Optical and Laser Storage: These types, such as CDs, DVDs, and Blu-rays, are not typically affected by fragmentation in the same way as magnetic storage. They are read from a static surface and do not experience performance degradation due to file fragmentation.

In summary, magnetic storage devices like HDDs are the ones that can be significantly affected by fragmentation.