The term Disc is used generically to describe various formats of circular physical media used to store or play back audio. Historically, it covers everything from analog vinyl records, known as LPs or singles, to digital optical media such as CDs and MiniDiscs. It is the standard nomenclature to refer to the physical object containing the commercialized musical recording, regardless of whether the reading technology is mechanical, via a stylus in the grooves, or optical, via laser beams.