microform

Generic name for media on which text or images are photographically reduced. The main examples are microfilm (similar to the film in an ordinary camera) and microfiche (flat sheets of film, generally 105 mm/4 in × 148 mm/6 in, holding the equivalent of 420 standard pages). Microform has the advantage of low reproduction and storage costs, but it requires special devices for reading the text. It is widely used for archiving and for storing large volumes of text, such as library catalogues.

Computer data may be output directly and quickly in microform by means of COM (computer output on microfilm/microfiche) techniques.