Editing Write protection (section)

{{Short description|Protection for the overwriting of data}}
[[Image:Write protect ring.agr.jpg|thumb|right|200px|IBM tape reel with white write ring in place, and an extra yellow ring.]]
[[Image:Cassette Write Protect IV.jpg|thumb|right|300px|From top to bottom: an unprotected Type I cassette, an unprotected Type II, an unprotected Type IV, and a protected Type IV.]]
[[Image:Floppy tabs 3x2.jpg|thumb|right|300px|A sheet of {{frac|5|1|4}}" floppy disk write protect tabs.]]
{{Refimprove|date=July 2010}}
'''Write protection''' is any physical mechanism that prevents writing, modifying, or erasing [[data]] on a device. Most commercial software, audio and video on writeable media is write-protected when distributed.