JumpDrive™ is a Lexar brand name for a Universal Serial Bus (USB) storage device, also called a USB flash drive (UFD). As is sometimes the case with brand names, the term “jumpdrive” is occasionally used by consumers when referring to any USB flash drive, in the same way “Kleenex” is often used to refer to any brand of facial tissue. Technically, the industry refers to these devices as UFDs, though consumers are mostly unfamiliar with the acronym, more often using terms like memory stick, thumb drive, or flash drive.

The JumpDrive or UFD is a small, portable device about the size of a BIC lighter or package of gum. The body is an encased circuit board with a memory chip, with one end featuring an integrated USB connector. This connector can slide into a USB port on nearly any computer, making the JumpDrive ideal for quickly transferring data or programs. USB ports support “plug and play” functionality so that a computer does not have to reboot to recognize the device or to disconnect from it. Modern operating systems also have built-in support for memory sticks, negating the need to load device drivers.

A JumpDrive has no moving parts and requires very little power. Nearly impervious to casual abuse, the UFD has replaced the less robust floppy drive and a handful of other storage, transfer or backup devices. Memory storage varies according to model, ranging from megabytes (MB) to gigabytes (GB). Light, small and tough, flash drives are the perfect compliment for any computer user.

Many newer motherboards have the option in the BIOS settings to boot from a USB drive. A bootable UFD is referred to as a “live drive.” Some flavors of popular operating systems, including a scaled down version of Linux™, are designed to work on a JumpDrive or UFD. Creating a live drive can be a great way to test out a new operating system without installing it on the computer’s internal hard drive.

Whether backing up data files, archiving programs, or building a portable music library, the JumpDrive or USB flash drive is a great investment with a humble price tag. UFDs are sold everywhere electronics are sold.