Memory cards are such a big part of life that these days everyone has heard of them and most people have got one. What's surprising is that few people know how they actually work and what else they can be used for but this article aims to end the mystery! We hope to provide you with all the information you need and hopefully a little more. If we've missed anything it may be covered on our website, please see links below.

So what are they?

The SD part of their name stands for 'secure digital', and they a portable external storage medium that can store a wide variety of data. Their most common use is in digital cameras to store pictures. When a picture is taken, the camera writes the image to the SD memory card, which can then be transferred to a computer via a memory card reader or can be used in other devices such as a camcorder, television or even a digital photo frame.

Due to their low cost and reliability, SD cards are sometimes used as an alternative to portable USB drives. The downside to this is not every computer has an attachment to read a SD card where as they all have the ability to read a USB stick. It's worth checking in advance if your relying on the information stored.

How big are they?

The majority of SD cards measure 32mm by 24mm and are usually 2.1 mm thick. Thickness can vary quite significantly between brands with some manufacturers making versions which are only 1.5mm thick. The cards are asymmetrical so they cannot be inserted into the slot upside down, but due to their size most people try at some point! The points of contact tend to be slightly recessed in the plastic to prevent the data from corruption and care must be taken to avoid contact with water.

The end usage

As well as digital cameras, SD memory can be used with laptops, digital camcorders, DVD players, HIFI systems, mp3/mp4 players. They have become more popular with digital camera users in recent years as almost all the major manufacturers support it, as opposed to its rival the XD memory card.

SD memory cards have the ability to transfer data at very high speeds so expect to see them on more devices in the future.

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Article Courtsey: ezinearticles.com

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