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CD-ROM
ConceptQ7982· pop 51· linked from 2,202 articles

Also known as Compact Disc Read-only memory, Compact Disc Read-Only Memory, CD

A CD-ROM (, compact disc read-only memory) is a type of read-only memory consisting of a pre-pressed optical compact disc that contains data computers can read, but not write or erase. Some CDs, called enhanced CDs, hold both computer data and audio with the latter capable of being played on a CD player, while data (such as software or digital video) is only usable on a computer (such as ISO 9660 format PC CD-ROMs).

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Key facts

Storage medium.title
CD-ROM
Storage medium.logo
frameless|upright=0.6|class=skin-invert
Storage medium.image
CD-ROM.png
Storage medium.caption
A traditional CD-ROM
Storage medium.type
Optical disc
Storage medium.capacity
650870 MiB
Storage medium.read
780 nm laser diode, 15010,800 KB/s (172×)
Storage medium.write
Pressed mold
Storage medium.standard
Yellow Book (ISO/IEC 10149)
Storage medium.owner
SonyPhilips
Storage medium.use
Computer data storage
Storage medium.extended to
CD-ROM XADVD-ROM

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Wikidata facts

Image
CD-ROM.png
Show 4 more facts
Commons category
CD-ROM
time of discovery or invention
1982-00-00
P13411
Aristotle
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~24 min read

Article

23 sections
Contents
  • History
  • CD-ROM discs
  • Media
  • Standard
  • Manufacture
  • <span class="anchor" id="Mode 1"></span><span class="anchor" id="Mode 2"></span>CD-ROM format
  • Sector structure
  • <span class="anchor" id="XA"></span><span class="anchor" id="Mode 2 Form 1"></span><span class="anchor" id="Mode 2 Form 2"></span>CD-ROM XA extension
  • Disc images
  • Capacity
  • CD-ROM drives
  • Laser and optics
  • Transfer rates
  • Original speed
  • Speed advancements
  • Physical limitations
  • Workarounds
  • Speed ratings
  • Speed table
  • Copyright issues
  • See also
  • Notes
  • References

A CD-ROM (, compact disc read-only memory) is a type of read-only memory consisting of a pre-pressed optical compact disc that contains data computers can read, but not write or erase. Some CDs, called enhanced CDs, hold both computer data and audio with the latter capable of being played on a CD player, while data (such as software or digital video) is only usable on a computer (such as ISO 9660 format PC CD-ROMs).

During the 1990s and early 2000s, CD-ROMs were popularly used to distribute software and data for computers and fifth generation video game consoles. DVDs as well as downloading started to replace CD-ROMs in these roles starting in the early 2000s, and the use of CD-ROMs for commercial software is now rare.

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