Floppy Disk

computer history · data storage · technology

Flexible magnetic disk. A floppy disk had a thin, bendy disk coated with a special magnetic material inside a plastic case. When you inserted it into a computer, the drive would spin it around and read or write data using magnetism, kind of like how a cassette tape works.

Three popular sizes. The most common floppy disks came in three sizes: 8-inch, 5.25-inch, and 3.5-inch (the tiny one many of us remember). Over time, the smaller 3.5-inch version became the most popular because it was easier to carry around.

Built-in dust remover. Each floppy disk case had soft fabric lining inside that would gently brush the disk clean as it spun. This kept dust and dirt from damaging the magnetic coating and losing your data.

Your portable storage. Before cloud storage and USB drives, floppy disks were how people moved files between computers or backed up important documents. Students and office workers carried them in pockets and backpacks everywhere.