compact disc: Quick Facts

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Last updated

Oct. 17, 2026

Facts

Also Known As	DAD • laser disc • CD • digital audio disc

Photos and Videos

Several compact discs overlap in a scattered arrangement, reflecting iridescent blue, purple, and pink light from their shiny surfaces.

Close-up of a CD manufacturing machine with robotic arms and mechanical components assembling compact discs on a production line.

Diagram comparing the microscopic surface structures of a CD and a DVD, showing that DVDs have shorter pits and narrower track spacing than CDs, which allows for greater data storage. Measurement labels highlight the differences in minimum pit length and track spacing for each disc.

Portable compact disc player.

the laser scanning method employed in compact disc players

Study how an infrared laser scans the metallic reflective layer of a disc to read recorded sound

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Topics

CD-ROM DVD Blu-ray videodisc magnetic recording non-fungible token e-book streaming media optical storage microform map telecommunications media media ethics video editing

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Key People

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Morita Akio

Japanese businessman

The iPod nano, introduced by Apple CEO Steve Jobs in San Francisco, May 2007. A revolutionary full-featured iPod that holds 1,000 songs and is thinner than a standard #2 pencil. MP3 player, music player, digital music

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