An information storage medium utilizing mild to document and retrieve info from a flat, normally round, disc. These discs usually include a polycarbonate substrate coated with a reflective materials. Info is encoded by creating microscopic patterns on the floor, that are then learn by a laser beam. Frequent examples embody compact discs (CDs), digital versatile discs (DVDs), and Blu-ray discs.
This expertise supplied important benefits over earlier magnetic storage strategies when it comes to storage capability, sturdiness, and portability. Its improvement revolutionized the distribution of music, motion pictures, and software program. Its use allowed for mass manufacturing and distribution of digital content material, impacting leisure, schooling, and information archiving.