Floppy Disk (diskette; flexi-disk) Definition/Meaning:
A magnetic information storage medium
consisting of a circular polyester substrate coated on one or both sides with
magnetic oxide and enclosed within a stiff envelope, the inside of which is
coated with a cleaning material. The envelope has a radial slot - or two slots
for a double-sided floppy disk -through which the read/write heads of the
'floppy-disk drive can contact the disk. A hole in the envelope and disk is
provided so that a photosensor may be used to generate an index pulse once per
revolution signal.
In some types there are a number of holes, typically 32, in
addition to the index hole and these are used to initiate writing of 'sectors. A
cutout on one edge of the envelope - the inner edge when inserted in the disk
drive - can be blocked to prevent the drive from writing to the disk. The two
most common sizes of floppy disk are 8" and 5 and 1/4," (210 mm and 133 mm) diameter,
the latter sometimes being referred to as a minifloppy.
Compare hard disk.
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