Typically, nonvolatile memory devices are hard disks, but they can also be solid-state devices like secure digital (SD) cards and even magnetic tape devices (all but obsolete now).

With this system, the impact oscillogram of load vs time obtained and displayed by a digital storage oscilloscope are recorded on a magnetic tape.

Since the dawn of the digital computer age, long-term data storage and backup have been the province of a single primary medium: magnetic tape.