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compact disc
References & Edit History Quick Facts & Related Topics
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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.
Study how an infrared laser scans the metallic reflective layer of a disc to read recorded sound
optical disc the laser scanning method employed in compact disc players
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compact disc (CD) summary
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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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compact disc: References & Edit History

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  • The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
    Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors.

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Article History

Type Description Contributor Date
Add new Web site: Nature Communications - Upcycling Compact Discs for Flexible and Stretchable Bioelectronic Applications. May 15, 2026
Add new Web site: BBC Newsround - History of the CD: 40 years of the compact disc. Feb 25, 2026
Add new Web site: National Center for Biotechnology Information - PubMed Central - Use of Recordable Compact Discs to Fabricate Electrodes for Microchip-based Analysis Systems. Aug 30, 2025
Add new Web site: The Society of Broadcast Engineers - Compact Disk Recording and Reproduction (PDF). May 23, 2025
Add new Web site: Council on Library and Information Resources - Conditions That Affect CDs and DVDs. Apr 11, 2025
Add new Web site: Academia - Image Processing (PDF). Sep 21, 2024
Add new Web site: Santa Barbara City College - Compact Discs. Jul 25, 2024
Add new Web site: Academia - Compact Disks: What, Why and How. Oct 31, 2023
Corrected display issue. Mar 20, 2023
Add new Web site: History Computer - Compact Disc explained - everything you need to know. Apr 04, 2022
Add new Web site: Inventors and Inventions - CDs. Nov 14, 2019
Add new Web site: Molecular Expressions - History of the Compact Disc. Apr 13, 2018
Added photographs of compact discs and a CD manufacturing machine. Added a diagram depicting the process of compact disc playback. Jan 19, 2018
Described advances in storage made by Blu-ray and HD DVD technologies and direct-to-hard-disk audio recordings that could avoid the need for digital tape masters. Jan 19, 2018
Add new Web site: Computer Hope - Compact Disc. Dec 23, 2016
Add new Web site: How Stuff Works - Technology - How CDs Work. Nov 10, 2011
Added new Web site: BBC Newsround - History of the CD: 40 years of the compact disc. Mar 18, 2009
Added new Web site: NASA�s KSNN - How does a CD work? May 14, 2008
Media added. May 08, 2008
Article revised. Mar 25, 1999
Article added to new online database. Jul 20, 1998
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