A cassette is a small, rectangular container that holds magnetic tape used for recording and playing audio. It was popular from the 1970s to the 1990s, allowing users to listen to music and record sounds. Cassettes typically have two reels inside, which move the tape past a playback head in a cassette player. Cassettes were widely used for personal music collections and mixtapes, making them a significant part of music history. They offered a portable way to enjoy music before the rise of digital formats like CDs and MP3s. Today, cassettes are considered nostalgic and are sometimes used by collectors and enthusiasts.