constant linear velocity

(CLV) A disk driving scheme in which the linear velocity of the disk is kept constant. This requires that the angular velocity of the disk be larger when the reading or writing tracks closer to the axis. The advantage of this technique is that the read/write speed is constant. However, as mechanical stability puts an upper limit on the angular velocity (and not the linear velocity) using the same linear velocity throughout, i.e., using less then the maximal angular velocity at outer tracks means that the full potential of the drive is not used.