Definition: A USB flash drive is a sturdy, small removable data storage device that provide convenient portability and can store large amounts of data.
USB flash drives can be purchased ranging in size from 128 MB up to a few GB. Not all devices support larger USB flash drives, so check your device documentation or contact tech support to find out how much USB memory your PDA, laptop or other device can read.
USB flash drives are not memory sticks, which is a trademark of Sony.
USB flash drives have no power source of their own and only operate when plugged into a USB port on a computing device.
Also Known As: thumb drive, pen drive, flash drive, USB drive, USB key
Examples:
- Use a USB drive to back up files before you upgrade your financial software.
- Use a USB drive to back up Quicken.
- Back up Microsoft Money or Money Plus data to a USB drive.