CD ROM, stands for Compact Disc Read Only Memory, it is a type of storing data that goes up to 1 GB. It is an optical disk that has the capacity to store data, music files, video files etc. A single one has the average capacity to store the memory of about 700 floppy disk, which is equal to 3000,000 text pages. Once it is filled up with data, new data cannot be entered on it. First of all it was designed to store only the music and video files, but later this format has also been adapted to store the binary data of the computer. They are particularly used to distribute the computer software that can include, games, multimedia application etc.



Their appearence is identical with the audio disk, and all the data that is stored in it is retrieved in the same manner. The disc of the CD ROM is 1.2 mm thick and has a thin layer of aluminum that makes a reflective surface. They are round in size and have a hole in the middle so that it can fit in easily. To read a CD you need a ROM player; almost all the player comes in a standard size and format, so it is very easy to load any type of these in your player. They are very much portable and can store all the information that requires a large amount of space capacity. When you buy a computer, it must be compatible with a CD ROM, or else you will not be able to install all the required programming to it. It has also become a very important source of application to provide video and audio systems to your PC.

There is a difference in the way the data is stored and organized. The two sectors are mode 1 and mode 2. Mode 1 is used to carry only the data and application. Precise addressing is necessary to get access to this data. In the mode 2, the compressed audio and video data are stored and can only detect the errors and correct them. The mode 2 format is very flexible method to store the graphic and video data. The entire software that a computer is required to run without giving any problem to the users are installed through the mode 1. Today people are crazy about games. Before there used to only default games or the ones that had to be downloaded through the net, but today you will find thousands and thousands of games available in the compact disk. You can even watch and enjoy your favorite ad latest movies with the help of them. As the technology is developing, things are becoming more compatible, just like the CD ROM, which has made the storage of large amount of data and files very easy. It also works as a back up and optical storage device for your computer.