What is disk rot?

Disk rot, also known as disk rotting or disc rot, is a phenomenon where optical storage media such as CDs, DVDs and Blu-ray discs start to deteriorate over time, resulting in loss of data. This can be due to a variety of factors, including exposure to light, heat, moisture, and pollutants. It is caused by the corrosion of the reflective layer or the dye layer, which is responsible for storing data, due to oxidation, chemical reactions or other environmental factors. Over time, this deterioration can make the data on the disc unreadable, and in some cases, the disc may become completely unusable. Disk rot can be prevented by storing optical discs in cool and dry environments with minimal light exposure, avoiding contact with pollutants, and using high-quality, archival storage media.