Optical Drive

Definition

An optical drive is a type of computer disk drive that reads and writes data from optical discs through laser beaming technology. This allows you to play CDs, DVDs, and Blu-ray discs.

Why It Matters

Optical drives were the successor to floppy disks for software distribution, music, and movies. For over a decade, they were a standard component in most computers.

Contextual Example

To install a game or watch a DVD movie on a PC in the 2000s, you would insert the disc into the computer's optical drive.

Common Misunderstandings

• Optical drives are becoming increasingly rare in modern computers, especially laptops, as software and media have moved to digital downloads and streaming.
• CDs, DVDs, and Blu-ray discs are different types of optical media with different storage capacities.