{{Short description|Computer storage device}} {{More citations needed|date=March 2023}} thumb|An assortment of flash drives [[File:Transcend JetFlash by Augustas Didzgalvis.jpg|thumb|Transcend JetFlash from 2014]]
A '''flash drive''' is a portable computer drive that uses flash memory. Flash drives are the larger memory modules consisting of a number of '''flash chips.''' A flash chip is used to read the contents of a single cell, but it can write an entire block of cells. They connect to a USB port<ref>{{Cite web |title=How to Use a USB Flash Drive on Windows PC |url=https://www.kingston.com/en/blog/mobile-lifestyle/how-to-use-a-usb-drive-on-windows |access-date=2023-03-01 |website=Kingston Technology Company |language=en}}</ref> and function as a folder. They can also be encrypted for extra security.
== Specific flash drive types == Memory cards: * Flash memory-based CompactFlash (CF) card (including CFast card) and XQD card (Note: some other types of CF and XQD card are not flash memory-based) * Memory Stick (MS) * MultiMediaCard (MMC) * Secure Digital card (SD, SDHC, SDXC) * SmartMedia card (SM) * xD-Picture Card (xD) Other: * Solid-state drive, SSD, using flash memory (a few SSDs use DRAM or MRAM) * USB flash drive (UFD)
==See also== * Flash memory * Comparison of memory cards
==References== {{Reflist}}
Category:Solid-state computer storage media
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