The correct answer is: D. All of the above.
Magnetic tape is a data storage medium that uses magnetic patterns on a thin plastic tape to store and retrieve digital information. It was invented in 1951 by IBM and was first used in computers in the 1950s. Magnetic tape is a sequential-access storage device, which means that data is stored and retrieved in a linear fashion. This makes it slower than random-access storage devices, such as hard drives, but it is also more durable and can store more data.
Magnetic tape is used as a secondary storage medium for storing large amounts of data. It is also used as an output medium for backing up data and for transferring data between computers. Magnetic tape is not commonly used as an input medium, but it can be used to load data into a computer from a tape drive.
Here is a brief explanation of each option:
- A. Secondary-storage media: Magnetic tape is a secondary storage medium, which means that it is used to store data that is not currently being used by the computer. Secondary storage media is typically slower than primary storage media, such as RAM, but it can store more data.
- B. Output media: Magnetic tape can be used as an output medium for backing up data and for transferring data between computers. When used as an output medium, data is written to the tape from the computer.
- C. Input media: Magnetic tape can be used as an input medium to load data into a computer from a tape drive. When used as an input medium, data is read from the tape into the computer.