Cédé

Cédé is the colloquial French term for the compact disc, the optical storage medium used for digital audio, software, and multimedia. The word is common in everyday French and appears on packaging and in media reporting; it can refer to a single disc or to discs in general (des cédés).

History and formats: The compact disc was developed by Philips and Sony and introduced in 1982 as a digital alternative to vinyl records and cassettes. The original standard, CD‑DA, stored audio digitally; CD‑ROM added data storage for software and files. Discs are 12 cm in diameter; typical audio capacity runs about 74 to 80 minutes, while data discs hold about 650 to 700 MB.

Variants and construction: Variants include CD‑R (recordable) and CD‑RW (rewritable), as well as CD‑ROM and mixed‑mode discs. The standard construction uses a polycarbonate substrate, a reflective metal layer, and a protective lacquer. Playback compatibility across devices contributed to widespread adoption as a universal format for music and software.

Legacy: With the rise of digital downloads and streaming, cédé usage declined in consumer markets but discs remain in circulation for music reissues, archival storage, and niche applications. They are also valued for physical collectors’ editions and for processes involving high-fidelity transfers and archiving.