physical media
Definitions
Tangible objects, such as CDs, DVDs, vinyl records, or printed books, used to store and distribute data or content.
Hardware-based storage formats that require a physical device to be handled or inserted to access the contained information.
Examples
Despite the rise of digital streaming, many collectors still prefer to own physical media like vinyl records and Blu-rays.
The library is transitioning its archives to digital formats, though they will continue to preserve a selection of physical media for historical purposes.