CD-ROM

CD-ROM stands for Compact Disc - Read-Only Memory. It is a type of CD made to hold data, as opposed to audio, which the CD was originally developed for. CD-ROM is used to distribution millions of dollars worth of software and games around the world every year. CD-ROM is made to be readable using a computer equipped with a CD-ROM drive. The most common size for a CD-ROM disc is 120mm in diameter, though smaller Mini-CDs with an 80mm diameter are available.

ISO 9660 defines the standard file system used by a CD-ROM, though ISO 13490 is expected to replace it. A CD-ROM sector contains 2352 bytes, divided into 98 24-byte frames. To protect against errors, the Reed-Solomon error correction is included on a CD-ROM disc. A standard 120mm CD-ROM disc typically stores about 640MB or 700MB.

CD-ROM compilations can be produced at home with the help or recordable CD-R or CD-RW blank media.