A network administrator recommends performing a low-level format to dispose of used hard drives. What distinguishes a low-level format from a standard format?

A low-level format today—also known as a zero-fill—does not resemble what it did years ago. However, the goal is the same: to completely wipe out all data on the hard drive and make it unrecoverable. Technically, the low-level format must happen first. The drive is then partitioned into one or more sections. The file allocation table and root directory are created using a standard format.