when were cds invented

Compact discs (CDs) were invented through a collaboration between Philips and Sony. The first prototype CD was revealed in 1979, and the format was officially introduced to the public in 1982. The first commercial CD was an album by ABBA called "The Visitors," released in 1982. The CD was designed as a thin, shiny, circular storage disc that could hold about 80 minutes of music and was played using a laser in a CD player. The invention marked a significant shift in music distribution, replacing vinyl and cassette tapes with a more durable and higher-quality medium. The CD format quickly gained popularity and became the primary medium for music storage and distribution by the end of the 1980s.