optical disc
Shiny data circle
An optical disc is a flat, circular storage medium read by laser light rather than physical contact.
CDs, DVDs, and Blu-ray discs are optical discs.
Data is encoded in microscopic pits on the disc surface that reflect laser light differently, allowing precise reading.
The technology largely displaced magnetic tape and floppy disks for music, movies, and software distribution, though streaming and flash storage have since reduced optical disc usage.
Optical storage medium
- DVD-ROMRead-only optical storage medium
- Blu-rayHigh-definition optical media
- DVDOptical media format
- LaserDiscOptical disc video format
MiniDisc · HD-DVD · data transfer · encoding · decoding · bitrate · error correction · firmware
Maximum amount containable
- gigabytesData capacity units
- megabytesUnits of digital storage
- archiveStored historical records
- backupStored duplicate for recovery
readable · writable · rewritable · ROM · RAM · spindle · jewel case · sleeve
Semiconductor emitting focused light
- infraredHeat-bearing electromagnetic waves
- wavelengthSpatial repetition interval
- lensLight-focusing curved glass
- beamStructural support member
pit · land · tracking · scanning · focus · polycarbonate · substrate · aluminum
Unified collection of recordings
- discographyCatalog of musical recordings
- soundtrackMusic accompanying visual media
- filmMovie or coating
- movieRecorded visual narrative
box set · collector's edition · special edition · director's cut · compilation · audiobook · software · live recording
CD-ROM
Optical storage medium
LaserDisc · MiniDisc · HD-DVD · data transfer · encoding · decoding · bitrate · error correction · firmware · file system
capacity
Maximum amount containable
backup · readable · writable · rewritable · ROM · RAM · spindle · jewel case · sleeve · recordable
laser diode
Semiconductor emitting focused light
- infraredHeat-bearing electromagnetic waves
- wavelengthSpatial repetition interval
- lensLight-focusing curved glass
beam · pit · land · tracking · scanning · focus · polycarbonate · substrate · aluminum · pickup
album
Unified collection of recordings
- discographyCatalog of musical recordings
- soundtrackMusic accompanying visual media
- filmMovie or coating
movie · box set · collector's edition · special edition · director's cut · compilation · audiobook · software · live recording · remaster
- discsCD, disk, DVD, record, diskette
- storage mediablank CD, blank tape, CD, DVD, floppy disk
- data storagehard drive, hard drives, backup, gigabyte, flash drives
- DVDsDVD, DVD player, DVD players, DVD drive, DVD drives
- media formatsMP3, mp3, DVD, MP4, Blu-ray
- Optical DiscsCD, DVD-R, DVD-RW, DVD+RW, DVD-RAM
optical discmagnetic tape
Coated strip storing data
magnetic storage · hard disk drive · floppy disk · solid-state drive · cassette tape
optical disccloud storage
Online data preservation service
streaming · digital download · cloud computing · streaming service
disc, discs, optical, discus, optics, optician, optometrist, optometry, opticians