An optical drive is a hardware device that reads and writes data from optical discs, such as CDs, DVDs, and Blu-ray discs. These drives use laser technology to access the data stored on the discs, making them useful for playing music, watching movies, and storing files. Optical drives can be found in many computers and laptops, although their use has declined with the rise of digital downloads and streaming services. They can be internal, built into the computer, or external, connected via USB for added convenience.