Editing CompactFlash (section)

==Compared to other portable storage==
* CompactFlash cards that use flash memory are more rugged than some hard drive solutions because they are solid-state. (See also [[#Reliability|Reliability]] above.) Separately, CompactFlash cards are thicker than other card formats, which may render them less susceptible to breakage from harsh treatment.
* As CompactFlash cards support the IDE/ATA command protocol with the host device, a passive adapter lets them function as the [[hard disk drive]] of a [[personal computer]], as described [[#Use in place of a hard disk drive|above]].
* CompactFlash does not have any built in [[digital rights management]] or cryptographic features found on some [[USB flash drive]]s and other card formats. The absence of such features contributes to the openness of the standard, as card standards with such features may be subject to restrictive licensing agreements.
* The initial CompactFlash specification envisaged a higher maximum capacity than other card formats. For this reason, many early CompactFlash host devices are usable with modern multi-gigabyte memories, where users of other families such as [[Secure Digital]] have had to migrate to SDHC and SDXC.
* CompactFlash lacks the mechanical write protection switch that some other devices have, as seen in a [[comparison of memory cards]].
* CompactFlash is physically larger than other card formats. This limits its use, especially in miniature consumer devices where internal space is limited, such as [[point-and-shoot]] digital cameras. (An offsetting benefit of larger size is that the card is easier to insert and remove, and harder to misplace.)