what is a magnetic tape

Magnetic tape is a medium for magnetic storage made of a thin, magnetizable coating on a long, narrow strip of plastic film. It was developed in Germany in 1928 and has been used for recording sound, storing computer data, and even for hanging signs and displays for business. Magnetic tape revolutionized sound recording and reproduction, allowing radio broadcasts to be recorded for later or repeated airing. It is also used with computers to store large quantities of data and for backup purposes. Magnetic tape is versatile and can be used in various ways, such as for warehouse shelving, product identification, whiteboards, store and retail shelves, schedule and planning boards, and control charts. However, magnetic tape begins to degrade after 10–20 years and is not an ideal medium for long-term archival storage. Despite this, technological innovation continues, and as of 2014, Sony and IBM continue to advance tape capacity. Magnetic tape has been used for over 50 years for data storage, and while other technologies like CD or DVD are replacing it, innovation in the technology continues, and tape is still widely used.