A USB flash drive is a device used for data storage that includes a flash memory and an integrated Universal Serial Bus (USB) interface. Most USB flash drives are removable and rewritable. They derive the power to operate from the device to which they are connected (typically a computer) via the USB port.

A USB hard drive is an external hard drive that connects via USB. It uses the same design as an internal hard drive, except comes in an external casing that protects the drive. Unlike a USB hard drive, a flash drive is a "solid state" device, meaning it has no moving parts.

The price of a USB flash drive, starting at under £5,will vary mostly depending on the storage size of the USB stick, which for the majority ranges from 8gb to 128gb. An 8gb USB flash drive will hold around 2000 songs or 2500 photos, making them good for small media collections or for business use.