The MiniDisc is a magneto-optical disc format that was developed by Sony in the early 1990s. It was designed for storing and playing back audio, offering a compact alternative to traditional CDs. MiniDiscs are about the size of a small floppy disk and can hold up to 80 minutes of high-quality audio. MiniDiscs were popular for portable music players and recording devices, allowing users to easily edit and re-record tracks. Although they gained a following, the rise of digital music formats and MP3 players led to a decline in their use by the early 2000s.