If you’ve shopped for computer hard drives recently, you may have run across an unfamiliar acronym: SATA.  SATA stands for “Serial Advanced Technology Attachment” and refers to a relatively new type of interface for internal and external hard drives.  You may also see the interface referred to as “Serial ATA”.  Compared to ATA hard drives—now referred to as “PATA” or “Parallel ATA” drives–SATA devices send and receive data faster, are less prone to hardware failures and are easier to install.   The cables used with SATA drives are much smaller than those used with ATA drives and thus take up less room inside your computer and allow for better air flow.  SATA connectors on motherboards are also color-coded to make it easier to determine hard drive priority in those computers with multiple drives.  If you’re purchasing an external SATA drive for your computer, you’ll see the interface referred to as “eSATA”.  Most computer manufacturers are installing SATA rather than PATA drives in new systems and SATA may eventually replace PATA altogether.