What type of secondary storage is a magnetic tape?

Magnetic tape is classified as non-volatile storage, which means it retains the stored data even when the power is turned off. This characteristic is essential for secondary storage, where data needs to be preserved long-term without requiring constant power. Unlike volatile storage, which loses information quickly when the power supply is interrupted, non-volatile storage solutions like magnetic tape are designed to maintain integrity over extended periods.

Magnetic tape is often used for backup and archival purposes due to its ability to store large amounts of data at a relatively low cost while ensuring that the information remain accessible for future retrieval.