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Definition: flash disk


(1) See USB drive.

(2) A storage module made of flash memory chips. Flash disks have no mechanical platters or access arms, but the term "disk" is used because the data are accessed as if they were on a hard drive. The disk storage structure is emulated.

The first flash disks were housed in Type II PC Cards for expanding laptop storage. Subsequently, flash memory disks have arrived in a variety of formats, including entire hard drive replacements (see SSD), memory cards for digital cameras (see flash memory) and modules that fit on a keychain (see USB drive).




Early Flash Disks
The 40MB and 175MB modules are Type II PC Cards. Not even one gigabyte, their capacity is utterly minuscule by today's standards. Nevertheless, they provided extra storage for the first laptops. The 15MB module is an earlier CompactFlash camera card. (Image courtesy of SanDisk Corporation.)





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