Advanced Host Controller Interface (AHCI) is a technical specification that defines a standard interface for connecting storage devices such as hard drives and solid-state drives (SSDs) to a computer system. Developed by Intel, AHCI is primarily aimed at improving the performance and efficiency of SATA (Serial Advanced Technology Attachment) devices.
AHCI serves as an interface between the host system's software and the storage devices, enabling efficient data transfer and advanced features. It provides several advantages over older storage interfaces, including support for hot-plugging and native command queuing (NCQ). Hot-plugging allows users to connect or disconnect storage devices while the computer is running, facilitating easy installation or removal of storage drives. NCQ, on the other hand, optimizes the order of data transfers, improving overall performance by reducing latency and enabling simultaneous operations.
Furthermore, AHCI offers features like advanced power management, enabling better energy efficiency and prolonging battery life, especially in portable devices such as laptops. It also supports the use of solid-state drives, taking advantage of their faster speeds compared to traditional hard drives.
AHCI is widely adopted and supported by various operating systems, including Windows, macOS, and Linux. However, it is important to note that newer storage interfaces like NVMe (Non-Volatile Memory Express) have emerged as successors to AHCI, delivering even higher speeds, particularly when used with PCIe (Peripheral Component Interconnect Express) interfaces.
