Before the Internet, DVD-ROMs, and CD-ROMs, the easiest and fastest way to transfer data between computers was the floppy disk. The floppy disk was a thin, flexible plastic object, either 3.5 inches or 5.25 inches in size, containing a magnetic disk inside its casing. Its maximum storage capacity was 1.44 MB—barely enough to hold even one MP3 song. Back then, however, storage needs were much less demanding than they are today.

The Beginnings of the Floppy Disk

The story of the floppy disk began in the 1960s. IBM was the first company to develop and introduce the floppy disk in 1967, although its official release occurred in 1971. The first floppy disk was 8 inches in diameter and had a capacity of just 80 KB. Its major innovation was the ability to rewrite data, a significant leap forward compared to the magnetic tapes used at the time.

The floppy disk evolved rapidly. In 1976, the 5.25-inch floppy disk was introduced, quickly becoming the dominant storage medium for personal computers. This smaller, more practical format offered capacities ranging from 110 KB to 1.2 MB. These disks were widely successful throughout the 1980s and 1990s, serving as the primary medium for software installation and data transfer.

A major upgrade came in 1984 with Sony’s 3.5-inch floppy disk. With a hard plastic casing for increased durability and initial storage capacities of 720 KB (later increasing to 1.44 MB), this version became the new standard, remaining dominant for over a decade.

Alternative Uses of Floppy Disks

A unique innovation from Nintendo in the 1980s was the Famicom Disk System in Japan, which exclusively used Nintendo-branded floppy disks. Gamers could visit special kiosks to copy their desired games onto a disk, which could then be played on their Nintendo systems.

Nintendo’s floppy disks followed a similar design philosophy to computer disks, featuring a plastic casing and a magnetic disk that could be rewritten multiple times.

Uses of the Floppy Disk

Floppy disks were used for storing games, operating systems, and personal files. In the early 1990s, many games required multiple disks—often four or more. Users frequently needed to install games or software onto their large 1.2 GB hard drives (considered enormous at the time) using floppy disks. Boot disks were another common use case, enabling a computer to start up when needed.

Even as late as the early 2000s, floppy disks were essential for students to submit assignments to professors. Their affordability and small file sizes made them convenient for such tasks.

The Decline and End of the Floppy Disk

Despite its popularity, the floppy disk began to lose ground in the late 1990s with the advent of CD-ROMs, which offered much larger storage capacities (up to 700 MB) and faster data access. The introduction of USB flash drives in the early 2000s dealt the final blow, providing even greater capacities and transfer speeds.

Computer manufacturers started phasing out floppy drives from new models, and in 2011, Sony announced it would cease production of 3.5-inch floppy disks. This marked the official end of the floppy disk era.

Fun Fact: Younger generations might not realize it, but the icon used for the "Save" button in many software programs is an image of a floppy disk!