Data file of information that are no longer in active use, but stored separately to free space on a hard drive are referred to as?

The term that describes data files that are no longer in active use but are stored separately to free up space on a hard drive is archival data. Archival data is specifically intended for long-term storage and retrieval while not being part of the everyday operational data. This type of data often includes older files that must be retained for legal, compliance, or historical reasons but do not need to be readily accessed or modified regularly.

In contrast, active data consists of files that are currently in use and frequently accessed. Backup data refers to copies of active data created for recovery purposes, ensuring data can be restored in case of loss, rather than being inactive and stored. Residual data typically pertains to data remnants left on storage devices after files have been deleted or formatted, which does not align with the notion of being intentionally stored away from active use. Thus, archival data is the most fitting description for the scenario in question.