Function

• The purpose of formatting a CD is to divide the disc into sectors so it can hold information.
  
  

Types

• Photo CD, enhanced CD, hybrid disc, CD-ROM, CD-R and CD-RW are popular CD formats.
  
  

Identification

• Standards for CD formats are also referred to as books of certain colors, such as yellow book (CD-ROM) and blue book (enhanced CD).
  
  

Size

• Depending upon its formatting, a CD can hold up to 650 MB of data, which is almost 2,000 times more information that a floppy disc can contain.
  
  

Warning

• Formatting a CD erases the disc, so always be sure you don't need any of the information it holds before formatting it for your computer.
  
  

History

• The Sony and Phillips companies introduced the audio CD in 1979; one year later, there were 1,000 music titles for sale.
  
  

Famous Ties

• The seminal 1985 album "Brothers in Arms" by British rock band Dire Straits was the first audio CD to sell 1 million-plus copies.