Punch Cards
Punch cards are pieces of stiff paper that have holes punched in them to represent data. They were widely used in the early days of computing and data processing, allowing machines to read and interpret information. Each hole or absence of a hole corresponds to a specific value or instruction, enabling the storage and retrieval of data.
Originally developed in the 19th century for textile looms, punch cards became essential for early computers in the mid-20th century. They were used for programming, data entry, and even census data collection. Although largely replaced by modern storage methods, punch cards played a crucial role in the evolution of computing technology.