Tape cassettes are small, rectangular plastic cases that hold magnetic tape used for recording and playing audio. They became popular in the 1970s and 1980s, allowing people to listen to music on the go with portable players like the Walkman. Each cassette typically holds about 30 to 90 minutes of music, making it easy to create mixtapes for friends or personal enjoyment. To use a tape cassette, you simply insert it into a cassette player, which reads the magnetic tape inside. While digital music has largely replaced cassettes, many people still cherish them for their nostalgic value and the unique sound quality they provide, often reminiscing about the era of classic rock and pop music.