# shaped compact disc

> non-circular type of compact disc

**Wikidata**: [Q993254](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q993254)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shaped_compact_disc)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/shaped-compact-disc

## Summary
A shaped compact disc is a non-circular type of compact disc format that maintains the same data storage functionality as standard circular discs. These discs deviate from traditional round designs while serving the same purpose as optical media storage devices.

## Key Facts
- Shaped compact discs are a non-circular type of compact disc format
- The format is a subclass of compact disc, which was created in 1979
- Shaped compact discs have 5 sitelinks, significantly fewer than standard compact discs (111 sitelinks)
- The format is maintained by WikiProject Music
- Shaped compact discs are classified as a physical media format
- The format has Wikipedia articles available in multiple languages including English, German, Russian, Kurdish Sorani, and Commons
- Shaped compact discs have aliases including "shaped disc," "shaped CD," "фигурный диск," and "фигурный компакт-диск"
- The format has a Freebase ID of /m/09th8m
- Shaped compact discs have a dedicated Commons category titled "Shaped compact discs"

## FAQs
### Q: What is a shaped compact disc?
A: A shaped compact disc is a non-circular type of compact disc format that maintains the same data storage functionality as traditional circular compact discs.

### Q: How are shaped compact discs different from standard compact discs?
A: Shaped compact discs differ primarily in their physical form, which deviates from the standard circular design. They serve the same data storage purpose but have different physical characteristics.

### Q: What information is available about shaped compact discs?
A: Information about shaped compact discs is available in multiple language editions of Wikipedia (English, German, Russian, Kurdish Sorani) and has a dedicated category on Wikimedia Commons.

### Q: When were shaped compact discs created?
A: While the parent compact disc format was created in 1979, there is no specific creation date provided for shaped compact discs in the available source material.

## Why It Matters
Shaped compact discs represent an innovative approach to optical media design that combines functionality with aesthetic appeal. This format enables more creative physical implementations while maintaining the core data storage capabilities of compact discs. Despite having fewer resources dedicated to it (evidenced by the lower sitelink count compared to standard compact discs), the format has maintained enough significance to be recognized in multiple language editions of Wikipedia and maintained by specialized Wikipedia projects. This suggests a niche but persistent application in fields where the visual presentation of media is important, such as music marketing, special editions, and promotional materials.

## Notable For
- Non-circular design: Unlike standard compact discs, shaped compact discs deviate from the circular form factor while maintaining data storage functionality
- Multilingual documentation: The format has been recognized and documented in multiple language editions of Wikipedia (English, German, Russian, Kurdish Sorani, and Commons)
- Specialized category: Has its own dedicated category on Wikimedia Commons specifically for shaped compact discs
- Niche application: While less common than standard compact discs, it serves specialized purposes in music marketing and special editions
- Wikimaintenance: Is specifically maintained by WikiProject Music on Wikipedia, indicating its importance in the music documentation ecosystem

## Body
### Physical Characteristics
- Shaped compact discs are non-circular in design
- They maintain the compact disc's data storage function
- The format is classified as a physical media format

### Documentation and Recognition
- The format has a Wikipedia page titled "Shaped compact disc"
- Information is available in multiple languages: ckb, commons, de, en, ru
- Has a dedicated category on Wikimedia Commons: "Shaped compact discs"
- Has 5 sitelinks, significantly fewer than standard compact discs (111 sitelinks)
- Maintained by WikiProject Music

### Technical Specifications
- The format is a subclass of compact disc
- Compact disc format was created in 1979
- Has a Freebase ID of /m/09th8m

### Aliases and Naming
- Known by various aliases: shaped disc, shaped CD, фигурный диск, фигурный компакт-диск
- The term "shaped compact disc" refers to its primary characteristic of non-circular form