Compact Disc -CD (1982-Present)

The Compact Disc introduced high-fidelity 16-bit/44.1 kHz PCM digital audio on a durable 12 cm optical disc with typical 74–80 minutes capacity (Red Book). Packaged in the iconic jewel case (later digipaks/slim cases), CDs standardized track indexing, error correction, and instant access—powering the rise of home CD players, car decks, and the portable Discman. Formats and relatives include CD single (8 cm), CD-Text, CD-R/CD-RW for recording, and enhanced “multimedia” discs.