Editing USB flash drive (section)

===Longevity===
The memory in flash drives was commonly engineered with [[multi-level cell]] (MLC) based memory that is good for around 3,000-5,000 program-erase cycles.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.anandtech.com/show/5734/kingston-hyperx-3k-240gb-ssd-review |title=Kingston HyperX 3K (240GB) SSD Review |publisher=Anandtec.com |date=2012-04-10 |access-date=2012-10-05 |archive-date=2013-01-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130113163951/http://www.anandtech.com/show/5734/kingston-hyperx-3k-240gb-ssd-review |url-status=live }}</ref> Nowadays Triple-level Cell (TLC) is also often used, which has up to 500 write cycles per physical sector, while some high-end flash drives have [[single-level cell]] (SLC) based memory that is good for around 30,000 writes.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.kingston.com/en/flashguide|title = Kingston's Flash Memory Guide - Kingston Technology}}</ref> There is virtually no limit to the number of reads from such flash memory, so a well-worn USB drive may be write-protected to help ensure the life of individual cells. <!-- This may be wrong: some say SSDs, which use the same flash memory, lose their data after 12 months if left unpowered. <-- I've never seen or heard of that. -->

Estimation of flash memory endurance is a challenging subject that depends on the [[Single-level cell|SLC]]/[[Multi-level cell|MLC]]/[[Triple-level cell|TLC]] memory type, size of the flash memory chips, and actual usage pattern. As a result, a USB flash drive can last from a few days to several hundred years.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blog.bowtiepromotions.com/2013/04/how-long-does-a-usb-flash-drive-last-part-ii/|title=How Long Does a USB Flash Drive Last? (Part II)|work=Promotional USB Flash Drives and Accessories|date=8 April 2013 |access-date=2015-03-21|archive-date=2015-04-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402145935/http://blog.bowtiepromotions.com/2013/04/how-long-does-a-usb-flash-drive-last-part-ii/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Regardless of the endurance of the memory itself, the USB connector hardware is specified to withstand only around 1,500 insert-removal cycles.<ref>Blanchard, Richard (March 8th, 2007) [http://www.getusb.info/what-is-the-life-cycle-of-a-usb-flash-drive/ "What is the Life Cycle of a USB Flash Drive?"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130210065341/http://www.getusb.info/what-is-the-life-cycle-of-a-usb-flash-drive/ |date=2013-02-10 }}, GetUSB.info, retrieved June 14, 2010</ref>