Optical disc drive

<p>In <a href="/facts/Computing/Kghtm9fX">computing</a>, an optical disc drive (ODD) is a <a href="/facts/Disk_drive/hnsXRb5X">disc drive</a> that uses <a href="/facts/Laser/jk6PTvvT">laser</a> light or electromagnetic waves within or near the visible <a href="/facts/Light_spectrum/24LARvFY">light spectrum</a> as part of the process of reading or writing data to or from <a href="/facts/Optical_disc/vjVDB1GH">optical discs</a>. Some drives can only read from certain discs, while other drives can both read and record. Those drives are called burners or writers since they physically burn the data onto the discs. <a href="/facts/Compact_disc/g51GRloc">Compact discs</a>, <a href="/facts/DVD/7fJsHJrN">DVDs</a>, and <a href="/facts/Blu-ray/zyPalhfG">Blu-ray</a> discs are common types of optical media which can be read and recorded by such drives.
</p><p>Although most laptop manufacturers no longer have optical drives bundled with their products, external drives are still available for purchase separately.
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Optical disc drive open-in-new

Optical disc drive