Punch tape

Updated: 05/02/2021 by Computer Hope
punch tape

Like a punch card, punch tape is used with some early computers as a means to store and input data into the computer. Instead of storing the data on individual cards, punch tape stores data on rolls of paper containing punched holes that represent the data being input or output.

Punched paper tape was an advancement on punch cards because a program could be stored on one roll of tape instead of dozens, hundreds, or thousands of different punch cards.

Note

To fix problems on punch tape, programmers placed paper patches over the punch tape holes.

CHAD, Hardware terms, Obsolete, Punch card, Storage device