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In computing, a data storage device—as the name implies—is a device for storing data. It usually refers to permanent (non-volatile) storage, that is, the data will remain stored when power is removed from the device; unlike semiconductor RAM. Recording can be done mechanically, magnetically, or optically.A typical way to classify data storage media is to consider its shape and type of movement (or non-movement) relative to the read/write device(s) of the storage apparatus. The following is a list of storage media, roughly sorted descending from modern to older/archaic media.
- Flash memory/ memory card (solid state semiconductor memory)
- Compact Flash I and II
- SONY Memory stick (Std/Duo/Pro/MagicGate versions)
- Secure Digital
- MMC
- SmartMedia
- xDxD (also called xD-Picture Card is a format of flash memory data storage device developed by Olympus and Fuji and used mainly in their digital camera products. XD is an emoticon used on the internet. Lists of two-letter combinations.
- USBNote: USB may also mean upper sideband in radio. Universal Serial Bus USB provides a serial bus standard for connecting devices, usually to a computer, but it also is in use on other devices such as set-top boxes, game consoles and PDAs. Overview A USB sy KeydriveA keydrive is a small removable data storage device that uses flash memory and a USB connector. Such a device is also known under several other names: keychain drive pen drive pocket drive thumb drive jump drive USB flash drive USB flash memory drive USB (a.k.a. "thumb drive")
- Disk storageDisk storage is a group of data storage mechanisms for computers; data is transferred to planar surfaces or disks for temporary or permanent storage. In the early 1960s single data bits were stored as magnetic charges in magnetic core memory. The scientis (flat, round, circularly spinning object)
- Optical discIn computing, sound reproduction, and video, an optical disc is flat, circular, usually polycarbonate disc whereon data is stored. This data is generally accessed when a special material on the disc (often aluminum) is illuminated with a laser diode. like CD-ROMThe CD-ROM (an abbreviation for " Compact Disc Read-Only Memory" ( ROM) ) is a non-volatile optical data storage medium using the same physical format as audio compact discs, readable by a computer with a CD-ROM drive. A CD-ROM is a flat, plastic disc wit, CD-RA CD-R C ompact D isc R ecordable) is a thin (1. 2 mm) disc made of polycarbonate with a 120 mm or 80 mm diameter that is mainly used to store music or data. However, unlike conventional CD media, a CD-R has a core of dye instead of metal. A standard CD-R, CD-RW, DVD-ROM, DVD-R, DVD-RW, DVD+R, DVD+RW, DVD-RAM, Blue Ray, Minidisc
- Hard disk (magnetic)
- Holographic
- Floppy disk, ZIP disk (removable) (magnetic)
- Gramophone record (used for distributing some 1980s home computer programs) (mechanical)
- Tape storage (long, thin, flexible, linearly moving bands)
As of 2003 it is expected that in the future, miniaturization might lead to the invention of devices that store bits on a single atom each (Bekenstein, 2003).
See also: computer storage
