Properties:

An electromechanical item which accepts and systematically retains digital input data in such a manner as to facilitate the rapid recovery of the stored information. The item consists of a drumlike structure the surface of which is coated with a material susceptible to spot magnetization, integral wiring, a drive motor and its mechanical linkage, and data translating heads for impressing on or removing from the drum surface data in digital form. The item is a component of an electronic computer. See also core memory unit.