Floppy revolution: how the 3.5-inch disk became a (literal) computer icon

The 3.5-inch floppy disk earned its name from earlier, genuinely flexible disk formats, even though the later version was encased in hard plastic. Despite younger generations being unfamiliar with the technology, floppy disks became iconic symbols of computer storage and remain recognizable as save icons in modern software. The disk format played a crucial role in the computer revolution of 1987, enabling the launch of major software like Excel and PowerPoint through improved storage capabilities.