The compact cassette, commonly known as a cassette tape, is an analog media format developed in 1962 by the Dutch inventor and engineer Lou Ottens for the Philips Company. Initially marketed for dictation, the cassette tape was notably smaller than a pack of cigarettes, with a capacity for significant data storage, making it a suitable format for pre-recorded music. The cassette tape became the standard audio format from the late 1970s to the early 90s.

Source: New York Public Library