compact disk read-only memory, which refers to the use of compact disks similar to audio compact disks as a computer storage medium. A computer CD stores information in digital form, similar to an audio CD, although the computer information may be either text, pictures, or sound. Computer CDs have capacities of several hundred MegaBytes.
Compact Disc Read Only Memory-type of optical disk, similar to an audio compact disk, that contains computer data and has a storage capacity that is approximately 470 times that of a 3.5" diskette. CD-ROMs are capable of delivering digitized sounds, images, and multimedia presentations. They are often used in interactive marketing in addition to point-of-sale brochures, coupon dispensers, the Internet, or virtual reality kiosks. A variety of merchants offer CD-ROM catalogs where shoppers can browse on their personal home computers to find desired items.
