| Inception | First introduced by IBM in 1971 |
| Initial Storage Capacity | 8-inch format had 80 Kilobytes of storage |
| Typical Sizes | Originally 8-inches; later versions were 5.25-inches and 3.5-inches |
| Usage | Used for data storage and transfer, particularly in early personal computers |
| Read/Write Method | Magnetic storage: data encoded on a circular plastic film |
| Accessibility | Sequential access to data (not random like hard drives) |
| Notable Feature | Portable and relatively low cost |
| Discontinuation | Largely phased out in favor of USB flash drives and CDs in the early 21st century |
