CompactFlash card
A CompactFlash card (or simply CF card) is an electronic device which stores digital data using Flash memory. CompactFlash cards were developed and released by SanDisk in 1994. They are generally used in cameras and video recorders, due largely to their high transfer speeds which make them ideal for devices which need to save large amounts of data in a short amount of time.
History and Progress
The original type was designed using the Parallel ATA data transfer connection. After this a version was released, advancements have been made. A later edition used a sort of Serial ATA to improve transfer speeds. The next to be developed was CFast In 2016, SanDisk had developed up to "Ultra CompactFlash" which offered transfer speeds of about 50MB/s.[1]
As Flash memory becomes more affordable, CompactFlash cards have also gained capacity and become somewhat less expensive.
Beginning of the End?
Nikon and Sony are beginning to use a new card called XQD, which they hope will replace CF cards. (XQD cards use a PCI Express interface to offer high transfer speeds.) However, Secure Digital cards seem to have taken dominance in the lower and mid-range market.[2]
Sizes
At this time, there are form factors of CompactFlash cards. Type I is smaller, measuring 43mm x 36mm x 3.3mm, while Type II measures 43mm x 36mm x 5mm.[3]