Compact Discs, or CDs, are small, round discs used to store digital data, primarily music. They were first introduced in the early 1980s and quickly became popular for their ability to provide high-quality sound. A standard CD can hold about 74 to 80 minutes of audio, making it a convenient format for albums and compilations. To play a CD, you need a CD player, which reads the data using a laser. This technology allows for clear playback without the hissing or popping sounds often found in older formats like vinyl records or cassette tapes. Although digital downloads and streaming have become more common, CDs still hold a special place for many music lovers.