Magnetic storage and magnetic recording are terms from engineering referring to the storage of data on a magnetized medium. Magnetic storage uses different patterns of magnetization in a magnetizable material to store data and is a form of non-volatile memory. The information is accessed using one or more read/write heads. As of 2011, magnetic storage media, primarily hard disks, are widely used to store computer data as well as audio and video signals. In the field of computing, the term magnetic storage is preferred and in the field of audio and video production, the term magnetic recording is more commonly used. The distinction is less technical and more a matter of preference. Other examples of magnetic storage media include floppy disks, magnetic recording tape, and magnetic stripes on credit cards.

La bande magnétique (ou ruban magnétique) est un support permettant l'enregistrement d'informations analogiques ou numériques à l'aide d'un magnétophone. On y lit les informations en mesurant la polarisation de particules magnétiques (oxyde de fer) incluse dans un substrat souple. On y écrit en modifiant cette orientation.