Final answer:
Compact discs first arrived on the US market in 1983, marking a new era in digital storage and music playback, replacing cassette tapes over the next decade.
Step-by-step explanation:
Compact discs (CDs) first hit the US market in 1983. This technology represented a significant step forward in the way audio and data were stored and accessed. CDs replaced cassette tapes during the 1990s and were widely used to listen to music, store photos, and transfer files.
A CD player reads the digital information on a CD through laser technology, interpreting variations in reflections from the surface of the disc. Some barcode scanners also use laser beams, although for different purposes.