👉 Tape computing is an early data storage and retrieval technology that uses magnetic tape to store information. Data is encoded onto long, flexible tapes using a series of magnetic particles that align in specific patterns when exposed to a magnetic field. These tapes are then read by a tape reader, which moves the tape past a magnetized head that detects the magnetic fields and converts them into electrical signals, which are then processed into digital data. Tape storage offers high capacity and relatively low cost per gigabyte, making it ideal for bulk data storage in applications like backups, archives, and large-scale data centers. However, tape computing is generally slower than other storage technologies like hard disk drives or solid-state drives and requires physical movement of the tape for data access, limiting its use in real-time applications.
