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A Zip disk is a high-capacity, 3.5-inch removable magnetic disk storage format, similar to a floppy disk but significantly thicker and with a larger storage capacity. It requires a Zip drive to read and write data, and it was popular in the mid-to-late 1990s as a way to store more data than a standard floppy disk could. Initial capacity was 100 MB, with later versions offering 250 MB and 750 MB.

Description and features

Similar to a floppy disk: Both use magnetic storage and are removable media, but Zip disks are much thicker and more durable.

Higher capacity: Initially 100 MB, this was later expanded to 250 MB and 750 MB, a significant increase compared to the 1.44 MB of a standard floppy disk. The name "Zip" was a marketing term, not a reference to data compression.

Requires a Zip drive: A computer needs a specific Zip drive to read the disks, which could be an internal component or an external unit connected via interfaces like SCSI, parallel, or USB.

Used for backups and data transfer: Due to their higher capacity compared to floppies, Zip disks were commonly used for backing up files and transferring large amounts of data between computers.

Technological successor: Zip disks were eventually replaced in the market by more advanced and convenient technologies like CD-R, CD-RW, and USB flash drives.