Compact Disc Database

What does Compact Disc Database mean?

Compact Disc Database (CDDB) is a central database containing audio CD metadata such as artist name, album name, tracklist, and other information. CDDB enables music players and software to automatically retrieve this data when a CD is inserted, enriching the user experience and allowing for more seamless playback and organization.

CDDB typically stores the following information for each CD:

• CDDB ID: A unique numeric identifier for the CD
• Artist name
• Album title
• Tracklist
• Genre
• Year of release
• Label information
• Disc length
• Track lengths
• Additional notes or trivia

Applications

CDDB plays a crucial role in various applications, including:

• Media Players: Music players and streaming services Leverage CDDB to display artist, album, and track information on their interfaces, providing users with a richer and more immersive listening experience.
• Music Management Software: CDDB enables music managers to organize and catalog Digital music libraries by automatically fetching metadata from the database for CDs and imported audio files.
• Disc Labeling: CD/DVD labeling software utilizes CDDB to automatically generate printable labels with accurate and comprehensive information, saving users time and ensuring professional-looking results.
• Audio Tagging and Editing: CDDB info can be embedded into audio files as tags, allowing users to easily identify and organize their music collections across multiple devices and applications.
• Music Discovery: CDDB facilitates music discovery by providing access to additional information about artists, albums, and tracks, potentially introducing users to new music that aligns with their preferences.

History

CDDB was originally created in 1994 by Steve Scherf and Joshua Tenenbaum as a way to store and share CD metadata. The database was initially distributed on CD-ROMs and later became accessible online. In 1998, CDDB was acquired by Gracenote, which expanded its capabilities and licensed it to various music companies and software developers.

Today, CDDB is widely adopted in the music industry, serving as a comprehensive and up-to-date source of information for countless audio CDs. It has played a significant role in streamlining the music listening and organization experience for millions of users worldwide.