In Star Trek: The Next Generation, what type of chip stores computer data and programming?

In Star Trek: The Next Generation, an isolinear optical chip stores computer data and programming.

Isolinear optical chips are compact storage and processing components used throughout Federation computer systems. They replace the earlier duotronic circuitry associated with Star Trek: The Original Series and help explain the more advanced, modular computers of the 24th century.

The chips are frequently shown as small transparent rods or rectangular components inserted into consoles and computer modules. They can contain software, records, command authorization, or other information. Their physical appearance made them useful visual props for scenes involving theft, sabotage, or restricted access.

They are not the same as bio-neural gel packs. Voyager uses bio-neural circuitry in addition to conventional computer technology, while isolinear chips remain a familiar Federation storage medium. The term is therefore especially associated with the computer architecture of The Next Generation era.