What does CD-ROM stand for?

The term CD-ROM stands for Compact Disc - Read Only Memory. This term encapsulates two key aspects of the technology. The "Compact Disc" portion refers to the physical medium that is used to store data; it's a digital optical disc that holds a large amount of information. The "Read Only Memory" part signifies that the data stored on a CD-ROM can be read but not written to or modified; once the disc is fabricated, the information it contains remains fixed and cannot be altered by the user.

This standard development allows for the distribution of software, multimedia, and other types of data in a format that is both compact and durable. The CD-ROM technology was pivotal in the evolution of computer software distribution, providing a reliable and high-capacity method for storing and accessing data compared to floppy disks and other earlier storage technologies.