Storage media are the materials or physical devices that carry recorded information. The term can include magnetic disks and tape, optical discs, semiconductor memory, and—in broad definitions—paper and film. Standards do not impose one universal set of rules on all of these: each document applies to a stated medium and purpose.
What does “storage media” mean?
A medium is the material or object on which information is recorded. NIST’s glossary in SP 800-88 Rev. 2 includes paper, punched cards, film, magnetic tape and disks, solid-state devices, and optical discs. It also distinguishes hard-copy media from information storage media, using the latter for devices that hold bits and bytes.
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Forensic terminology offers a concise formulation: the NIST OSAC Lexicon, citing ANSI/ASTM E1732 (2025), defines media as “objects on which data can be stored” (NIST OSAC Lexicon). When referring specifically to digital data-bearing devices rather than all physical carriers of information, “information storage media” is the more precise term.
What are the main types of storage media?
Storage media can be grouped by how they record information, but technology and product form are not the same classification. NIST’s sanitization guidance lists examples including hard disk drives (HDDs), solid-state drives (SSDs), RAM, ROM, optical disks, magnetic tape, flash memory, phones, networking devices, and office equipment. These are examples in a media-sanitization document, not a complete inventory of every possible storage medium.
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| Technology grouping | Examples | What the grouping describes |
|---|---|---|
| Magnetic | Magnetic disks, including HDDs; magnetic tape | Data recorded using magnetic properties. The physical form may be a disk or tape. |
| Optical | Optical discs | Disc-based storage; standards classifications also include magneto-optical devices in this area. |
| Semiconductor and flash | SSDs, RAM, ROM, flash-memory devices and cards | Electronic storage devices or memory. Some are built into systems; others are removable. |
| Hard-copy carriers | Paper, punched cards, film | Physical information carriers that may be included in a broad definition of media, but are distinct from devices that store digital bits and bytes. |
This is a terminology guide, not a ranking of capacity, speed, cost, durability, or reliability; the cited classification and glossary sources do not establish comparative performance.
How does ISO classify data-storage devices?
ISO’s International Classification for Standards (ICS) offers a subject taxonomy for standards concerning storage devices. The codes identify areas of classification; they do not certify a product or prove that it meets a technical requirement.
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| ISO ICS code | Subject area |
|---|---|
| 35.220.01 | Data storage devices in general |
| 35.220.10 | Paper cards and tapes |
| 35.220.20 | Magnetic storage devices in general |
| 35.220.21 | Magnetic disks |
| 35.220.22 | Magnetic tapes |
| 35.220.23 | Magnetic tape cassettes and cartridges |
| 35.220.30 | Optical storage devices, including CD and magneto-optical devices |
| 35.220.99 | Other data storage devices |
The categories show why it is useful to name the actual medium—such as magnetic tape or an optical disc—rather than assume that a general reference to “storage” covers every technology.
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What is removable media?
NIST defines removable media as a “Portable data storage medium that can be added to or removed from a computing device or network” (NIST CSRC glossary). Examples include optical discs, external or removable HDDs and SSDs, magnetic or optical tapes, flash-memory devices, and memory cards.
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Removability describes how a medium connects to or is used with a system, not how it records data. An SSD, for example, may be internal or external; the recording technology alone does not determine whether it is removable.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How should you interpret a storage-media standard?
Read a standard against its stated subject and intended outcome. ISO 18943:2014, Imaging materials — Magnetic hard drives used for image storage — Care and handling, addresses care and handling of magnetic HDDs used for image storage. It recommends practices intended to maximize the effective life of data on those drives when extended-term retention is desired. ISO says the standard was reviewed and confirmed in 2024 and remains current (ISO 18943:2014).
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That scope does not make it a general retention standard for SSDs, optical discs, or every storage situation. When evaluating a document, check:
- Medium: Which material or device does it cover?
- Use case: Is it about care and handling, interchange, security, sanitization, or another task?
- Intended result: What outcome does it recommend or require?
- Edition and status: Which version applies, and does the standards body identify it as current?
ISO ICS codes help locate a subject area, while a standard’s own scope explains what its technical provisions actually address. Neither a broad category name nor a classification code should be mistaken for proof that a specific product conforms.
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