# persistent volume

CEFR C1 · Compound

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/persistent-volume
Updated: 2026-07-22

## Definition

a piece of digital storage in a computer system that keeps your data safe even if the software using it stops or restarts. It is like a hard drive that stays connected to your files no matter what happens to the program.

For teachers: a storage resource in a container orchestration system, such as Kubernetes, that exists independently of the lifecycle of any individual container. It allows data to remain intact and accessible even after the associated pod or container is deleted or rescheduled.

## Examples

- The database uses a persistent volume to save all user information.
- When the server crashed and restarted, the persistent volume ensured that no customer records were lost during the downtime.
- Architecting stateful applications in cloud-native environments requires the careful configuration of a persistent volume to decouple data storage from the ephemeral nature of containerized execution units.

## Usage notes

- Commonly used in the context of cloud computing and DevOps; often abbreviated as PV.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.