Optical storage - GCSE Computer Science Definition

Optical storage is a way to save and read data using light, usually with a laser. This type of storage uses discs like CDs, DVDs, and Blu-rays, which have tiny dents and flat areas on their surface. When a laser light shines on these discs, it reflects in different ways depending on whether it hits a dent or a flat area. These reflections are read by a sensor and turned into data that a computer can understand, like music, movies, or files. Optical storage is often used because it is inexpensive and can hold a lot of data in a small physical space.