Plötuhúð

Plötuhúð, also known as vinyl, is a type of audio recording medium that consists of a thin layer of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) coated onto a sheet of plastic. The term "plötuhúð" is derived from Icelandic, where "plata" means "plate" and "húð" means "skin," reflecting the material's appearance and structure. Vinyl records are typically 12 inches in diameter and feature a grooved surface that stores audio data. The grooves are read by a stylus in a phonograph or turntable, converting the physical variations in the grooves into electrical signals that can be amplified and played through speakers.

The use of vinyl records dates back to the late 19th century, with the first commercially produced records appearing in the early 20th century. Vinyl records gained widespread popularity in the mid-20th century, particularly during the 1950s and 1960s, when they were the primary format for music distribution. The advent of compact discs (CDs) in the 1980s led to a decline in vinyl sales, but the medium experienced a resurgence in the late 2000s and early 2010s, driven by a renewed interest in vinyl records among music enthusiasts and collectors. Today, vinyl remains a popular format for music listening, appreciated for its high-fidelity sound quality and the tactile experience of handling physical records.