Quarter inch cartridge tape (abbreviated QIC, commonly pronounced "quick") is a magnetic tape data storage format introduced by 3M. QIC is a linear tape format, and comes in a rather rugged enclosed package of aluminum and plastic that holds two tape reels driven by belts. The tape is one quarter inch (1/4") wide and anywhere from 300 to 1500 feet long. Data is written to tape in linear tracks. Since the introduction of the format, QIC has been widely used and many variations exist.