| Ability of a hardware device or software program that prevents or allows data to be written to it. For example, to protect a file in software, users utilizing Microsoft MS-DOS could write protect a file utilizing the attrib command; users using a Linux variant or Unix variant could write protect a file utilizing the chmod command. To protect a file with a hardware device such as a floppy diskette, users using a 5.25-inch floppy diskette can write protect a diskette by covering a notch with tape at the upper corner of the diskette; users using a 3.5-inch diskette can enable or disable write protection by moving a small tab to block or unblock the hole located in the corner of the floppy diskette. By using write protection, users have the ability to help ensure data is not accidentally overwritten or erased.
Also see: Floppy definitions, Write mode | 
