Reel-to-reel tape is a type of magnetic tape used for recording and playing back audio. It consists of a long strip of plastic coated with a magnetic material, wound around two reels. This format was popular from the 1940s to the 1980s, especially in professional music studios and broadcasting. The tape is played by threading it through a tape deck, which uses magnetic heads to read and write audio signals. Reel-to-reel systems can offer high sound quality and are still appreciated by audiophiles and collectors today for their warm sound and durability compared to other formats like cassette tapes.