| USB is an acronym that stands for | | | | flash drives and consist of a small |
| Universal Standard Bus, a standard port | | | | printed circuit board encased either in |
| which can be used with any computer to | | | | sturdy plastic or metal; the latter |
| connect a number of computer | | | | makes flash drives even more |
| accessories. USB flash drive is a | | | | hard-wearing. A removable cap protects |
| compact USB flash memory that acts like | | | | the USB connected which is the protruded |
| a portable hard drive, letting the user | | | | part in the USB fitted to the proper USB |
| store and transport huge quantities of | | | | port on the computer. USB drives may |
| computer data better than disks. | | | | either be connected directly and/or may |
| Nowadays, USB flash drives, depending on | | | | come with a think plug designed for use |
| the kind, can be used to hold vast | | | | with a standard USB port. |
| amounts of information and are made to | | | | USB flash drives do not need an external |
| be small enough to be easily carried | | | | power source or a battery for it to |
| around by the users. One slips easily | | | | function and are powered by a USB |
| into the pocket, may be used as a | | | | computer connection. Hence, data |
| pendant to be hung around the neck or | | | | accessibility is only possible if the |
| even as a keychain. | | | | flash drive is connected to a computer. |
| As of 2006, there are USB flash drives | | | | First invented in 1988 as a floppy drive |
| that can carry as much as 16 gigabytes | | | | replacement, the first flash drives were |
| and may be used with most computers as | | | | made to store data ranging in size from |
| long as the operating system you use has | | | | 8 to 64 megabytes which were quite |
| the driver that supports both USB mass | | | | expensive then. Asian manufacturers soon |
| storage plus the file system used on the | | | | followed suit manufacturing flash drives |
| various information stored in it. The | | | | which can hold as much as 256 megabytes |
| needed drivers to make the USB flash | | | | at cheaper prices. Although initially |
| drive work comes when the device is | | | | conceived for data sharing, flash drives |
| bought and is very easy to install in | | | | are becoming more and more utilitarian |
| the computer. | | | | in nature, its uses only limited by the |
| Pen drives, chip sticks, thumb drives or | | | | users. |
| USB keys are other terms given to USB | | | | |