What is a CD?

Think of a Compact Disc as a physical storage system that uses LIGHT to represent information. It starts with a POLYCARBONATE PLASTIC BASE, which provides a durable and clear structure for the data layers to sit on. This thin disc can hold up to SEVEN HUNDRED MEGABYTES of data, which is plenty for high-fidelity audio or software, all packed into microscopic pits etched into the surface. To get that data out, the drive uses a LASER BEAM that shines onto those pits as the disc spins at high speeds. The laser follows a spiral TRACK PATH that actually starts at the INNER center and moves toward the OUTER edge, which is the opposite of how old vinyl records work! The secret is the REFLECTIVE LAYER made of thin aluminum film; it acts like a mirror, bouncing the laser light back to a sensor so the computer can translate those light reflections into digital code. Pretty smart design, right? Tiny Concepts.