Quick Answer
The answer is CD and DVD. Both are types of optical disc storage because they use a laser to read and write data by reflecting light off a spinning, reflective plastic disc, which is fundamentally different from magnetic hard drives or solid-state flash memory. On the CompTIA ITF+ FC0-U61 exam, this question tests your ability to distinguish optical media from other storage categories—a common trap is confusing a DVD (optical) with a USB flash drive (solid-state) or an external HDD (magnetic). Remember, if it uses a laser to burn pits and lands on a disc, it is optical; if it uses spinning platters or chips, it is not. A simple memory tip: think of the word “laser” in “optical” and picture a CD or DVD in a disc drive—both are the classic examples of this technology.
This FC0-U61 practice question tests your understanding of infrastructure. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
Which TWO of the following are types of optical disc storage? (Select exactly two.)
DVD
Digital Versatile Disc is an optical storage medium.
SSD
Why wrong: Solid-State Drive uses flash memory, not optics.
HDD
Why wrong: Hard Disk Drive uses magnetic platters.
Flash drive
Why wrong: Flash drives use solid-state memory, not optical.
CD
Compact Disc is an optical storage medium.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
DVD
DVD (Digital Versatile Disc) is a type of optical disc storage that uses a laser to read and write data on a reflective plastic disc. It is a standard optical media format, distinct from magnetic or solid-state storage technologies.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
DVD
Why this is correct
Digital Versatile Disc is an optical storage medium.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
SSD
Why it's wrong here
Solid-State Drive uses flash memory, not optics.
HDD
Why it's wrong here
Hard Disk Drive uses magnetic platters.
Flash drive
Why it's wrong here
Flash drives use solid-state memory, not optical.
CD
Why this is correct
Compact Disc is an optical storage medium.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates often confuse storage categories, mistakenly classifying SSDs or flash drives as 'optical' because they are removable or used for similar purposes, but the exam strictly tests the physical media type (laser-read vs. magnetic or solid-state).
Detailed technical explanation
Optical discs like CD and DVD store data as pits and lands on a spiral track, read by a laser diode. The DVD uses a 650 nm red laser with a smaller pit size (0.74 µm) compared to CD's 780 nm laser and 1.6 µm track pitch, enabling higher storage capacity (4.7 GB single-layer DVD vs. 700 MB CD). This technology is fundamentally different from magnetic or flash storage, which rely on different physical principles.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
A practitioner preparing for the FC0-U61 exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
What to study next
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FAQ
Infrastructure — This question tests Infrastructure — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: DVD — DVD (Digital Versatile Disc) is a type of optical disc storage that uses a laser to read and write data on a reflective plastic disc. It is a standard optical media format, distinct from magnetic or solid-state storage technologies.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 25, 2026
This FC0-U61 practice question is part of Courseiva's free CompTIA certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the FC0-U61 exam.
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