When were floppy disks introduced?

Floppy disks were introduced in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Initially, they were 8 inches wide, although this quickly was reduced as technology developed.

The floppy disk was the first main portable computer storage. It allowed software to be loaded onto computers. As floppy disks became more popular and convenient to use, they were used to save data from personal computers. Before the invention of the Internet and USB storage, floppy disks were the most convenient way to share data between computers, both in personal and professional settings. Floppy disks began to become less popular near the turn of the century when higher performing storage options became available.