A system and method is disclosed for the implementation of self-describing configurations in storage array. Each storage drive of the storage array includes at a defined location in the storage drive a self-describing function. When the storage controller receives a request to access a data block in the storage array, the storage controller executes the self-describing function with reference to the requested data block. The result of the executed self-describing function is an identification of the physical location of the data block within the storage array.