USBmuistitikku

USBmuistitikku, often referred to as a USB flash drive, thumb drive, or jump drive, is a portable data storage device that uses flash memory with an integrated USB interface. It is designed to be plugged directly into a USB port on a computer or other compatible device for data transfer and storage. These devices are small, lightweight, and reusable, making them a convenient option for transporting files between different locations or for backing up important data.

The technology behind USB flash drives relies on NAND flash memory, which is a type of non-volatile storage that retains data even when the power is turned off. The USB interface provides a standardized way for the device to communicate with the host system, allowing for easy plug-and-play functionality. Early USB flash drives had limited storage capacities, typically in the megabytes. However, modern drives offer capacities ranging from a few gigabytes to several terabytes.

USB flash drives are widely used for a variety of purposes. They are popular for transferring documents, photos, music, and videos. They can also be used to install operating systems, bootable recovery tools, or to store software. Due to their portability and ease of use, they have largely replaced older storage media like floppy disks and CDs for many common tasks. Security features such as encryption are also available on some USB flash drives to protect sensitive data.