archive

A copy of data (any information stored on a computer) on a computer drive, or on a portion of a drive, maintained for historical reference. Also: After processing discovery materials, an archive is created for each case. Viruses found in processing are typically removed (a clean archive), program-related files are removed (per instruction, a purged archive), erased files are analyzed and recovered if possible, slack space is checked, files are grouped according to files classes, and meta-data is added to

A long-term computer storage area.

A copy of a Notes application created to store information no longer in use.

A preserved collection of historical information purged from an ArcStorm database.

as a noun is any record or group of records having permanent value; as a verb it means to assure the permanent retention and preservation of a record or group of records in its original content, context, structure, and evidential integrity for use as reliable evidence.

The term is also conventionally (and confusingly and misguidedly) used to mean the transfer of electronic data from the system in which it was created or resides for current operations to a separate storage system or medium, the which is not "archival" because (according to scientific testing and competent archival and records management authorities) it cannot assure long-term survival or durability of the evidential integrity of the record.