Which of the following is an example of a non-volatile storage medium?

A hard disk drive (HDD) is indeed an example of a non-volatile storage medium because it retains data even when the power is turned off. This characteristic is crucial for long-term data storage, allowing users to save files, programs, and the operating system, which can be accessed at any time without needing to have power supplied to the drive.

In contrast, RAM (random access memory) is a type of volatile memory that loses its content when power is lost. Cache memory, which is often built into the CPU, is also volatile and serves as a temporary storage area for frequently accessed data to speed up processing time. Temporary files, while they can be stored on a hard drive, are often created by programs for temporary use, and their content is not meant to be retained indefinitely. Therefore, they do not represent a separate non-volatile storage medium on their own.