How does fragmentation affect read/write operations on a storage device?

Fragmentation impacts read and write operations by causing the data to be scattered over different physical locations on the storage device, which in turn increases the frequency of head movement in mechanical hard drives. When files are fragmented, the read/write head of the hard drive must move to multiple locations to access all the pieces of a file, resulting in longer seek times. This additional movement can significantly slow down performance, especially if a file is heavily fragmented.

In contrast, a non-fragmented file is stored contiguously, allowing for quicker access as the read/write head can read the data in a single pass. Therefore, while fragmentation may not affect solid-state drives in the same way due to their different architecture, it is a crucial factor in the performance of traditional mechanical hard drives, making the chosen answer relevant in the context of those devices.