A challenger to magnetic disks. Optical disks contain data stored optically rather than magnetically. Optical storage is removable and inexpensive to manufacture.
CDs are a popular medium for the distribution of software.
Optical disks are usually write-once. However, writable optical disks may have the potential to compete with new tape technologies for archival storage. Other Storage Devices Magnetic tapes Magnetic tapes use the same basic kind of recording technology as magnetic disks. This is similar to audio cassette tapes. Data is written in a track that runs the length of the tape.