Final answer:
Digital audio extraction (DAE) in optical drives allows for the conversion of audio tracks from CDs to digital audio files, making it easier to manage and play audio without the physical CD.
Step-by-step explanation:
Optical drives with digital audio extraction (DAE) offer the feature of converting the audio tracks from compact discs (CDs) into digital audio files. This process is also known as "ripping." Unlike the older method where audio playback could only occur through analog means (such as playing a CD in realtime), DAE allows for the audio tracks to be copied to a computer and other digital devices. This enables the stored digital audio files to be transferred, managed, and played back more conveniently, without the need for the physical CD to be present. The technology works by the drive's laser reading the variations in reflections on the surface of the CD, similar to how barcode scanners use a laser to read information.