How do I re install the OS from scratch?

I have a MacBook Pro Retina with OS X 10.8.3 and I'm curious how does it work if my OS crashes and I need to reinstall? Or if the hard drive goes bad? As we all know there is no CD or DVD drive on this machine. I read this article http://www.macworld.com/article/2018853/when-good-macs-go-bad-steps-to-take-when -your-mac-wont-start-up.html and it's not really clear where the OS installation files reside. Are they on a separate partition on the hard drive thusly they waste some of the HD space? Or is there something like a ROM chip inside the macbook that stores the base install files inside the MacBook separate from the SSD hard drive?
I want to understand how it works so that I can restore if I mess up my MacBook to the point it no longer boots.
Also would like to know if the hard drive goes bad are the OS install files available elsewhere to reinstall on a new drive or have they been lost and a special new drive from Apple is needed that includes the base install files?
Or have I got it all wrong?
Thanks.

You have two ways of accessing Internet recovery for your MBP. You can boot whilst holding down the COmmand and R key and you will boot to the Recovery partition on your disk, or you can hold down Command, option and R to boot from Apple's servers over the Internet. Both methods will allow you to erase your drive, reinstall OS X, etc.
So if your fash storage 'goes bad' it can be replaced and your local Apple Store can restore the OS for you.
You really need to think about a backup scheme or two. I use both Time Machine and clones. See -> https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-3045.
Good luck,
Clinton

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