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Removable storage is any data storage not built into a computer. Early methods included punch cards and magnetic tape, while floppy disks and CDs became popular later. Removable hard drives and flash drives are now commonly used for their portability and quick data exchange.
Removable storage, in computer terms, is any form of data storage that is not built into the computer itself. In addition to providing a form of backup by removing data from a centralized computer system, it’s also far more portable than an entire computer, allowing people to easily transport data back and forth from a wide variety of locations.
In the early days of computers, punch cards and magnetic tape were the operating methods of removable storage. Punched cards have been used to store data for centuries, but they were particularly suited to computing because they lent themselves well to storing data in binary form. Magnetic tape was the next step up from punched cards, allowing computer users to store more data on a written medium more quickly. Ironically, punched cards are actually a more stable form of removable storage than magnetic tape, which is easily damaged.
As computers have become more popular, floppy disks and compact discs (CDs) have become a more widely used form of removable storage. Both had larger capacities than previous methods, and companies constantly struggled to produce larger capacity discs as computers generated ever larger file sizes. While earlier compact storage was measured in kilobytes, later modules were capable of storing much larger files: most CDs, for example, can store data measured in megabytes.
Another form of compact storage is removable hard drives and flash drives. Flash drives are also known as memory sticks or thumb drives. Both types of removable storage can store gigabytes of data and can be written to very quickly via a Universal Serial Bus (USB) port. Some manufacturers make removable hard drives that can be connected to FireWire, Small Computer System Interface (SCSI), or parallel ports, although most take advantage of USB technology.
The wide range of removable storage options allows users to select the technology that works best for them. Disks are very useful for temporary storage or for sending data to other locations, and are often used by graphic designers to literally send large files, rather than attempting to transfer large files over an Internet connection. Many businesses also use disks for backup, although this practice has been questioned due to the long-term instability of these storage methods. Many consumers prefer removable hard drives or flash drives for the quick exchange of data between multiple computers and easy portability—many flash drives, for example, can fit on a keychain.
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