Data storage device

In computing a storage device is a device for storing data. It usually refers to permanent storage (non-volatile), that is the data will remain stored when power is removed from the device; unlike RAM. Recording can be done mechanically, magnetically, or optically.

A typical classification of data storage media is done by considering 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)
- MMC
- USB flash disks (aka "thumb drives")
magnetic bubble memory
disk storage (flat, round, circularly spinning objects)
- optical discs like CD-ROM, CD-R, CD-RW, DVD-ROM, DVD-R, DVD-RW, DVD+R, DVD+RW, DVD-RAM, Blue Ray
- hard diskss (magnetic)
- floppy disks, ZIP diskss (removable) (magnetic)
- gramophone records (used for distributing some 1980s home computer programs) (mechanical)
tape storage (long, thin, flexible, linearly moving bands)
- magnetic tape (a tape passing one or more read/write/erase heads)
- paper tape (mechanical)
paper card storage
- punched cards (mechanical)