Data storage

Data storage is the recording (storing) of information (data). Recording is accomplished by virtually any form of energy.

DNA and RNA, handwriting, phonographic recording, magnetic tape, and optical discs are all examples of storage media. Electronic data storage requires electrical power to store and retrieve data. Data storage in a digital, machine-readable medium is sometimes called digital data. Computer data storage is one of the core functions of a general purpose computer.

Electronic documents can be stored in a much less space than paper documents.Barcodes and magnetic ink character recognition (MICR) are two ways of recording machine-readable data on paper.

A study published in 2011 estimated that the world's technological capacity to store information in analog and digital devices grew from less than three (optimally compressed) exabytes in 1986, to 295 (optimally compressed) exabytes in 2007, and doubles roughly every three years.

It is estimated that the year 2002 marked the beginning of the digital age for information storage, the year that marked the date when human kind started to store more information digitally than on analog storage devices.

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