The medium is the physical material, whether in the form of a disk or a tape, used to store computer data. The material, whether it is a thin layer of iron oxide sprayed on a paper, plastic, or a metal base, or whether it is a thin sheet of aluminum foil

The medium is the physical material, whether in the form of a disk or a tape, used to store computer data. The material, whether it is a thin layer of iron oxide sprayed on a paper, plastic, or a metal base, or whether it is a thin sheet of aluminum foil sandwiched between disks of plastic, or whether it is a paper card punched full of holes, imparts certain characteristics to the media. [Characteristics include compatibility, speed, capacity, data density, cost, volatility, durability, and stability.]