What are the microscopic bumps on a digital versatile disc (DVD), created for data storage, known as?

The microscopic bumps on a digital versatile disc (DVD) that are created for data storage are known as pits. These pits are tiny depressions on the surface of the disc that represent the binary data - a fundamental aspect of how DVDs store information. When a laser is focused onto the surface of the DVD, it interacts differently with the pits and the flat areas (often referred to as lands). This differential reflection allows the optical drive to read the data encoded in the pattern of pits and lands, converting it back into digital information.

Understanding the concept of pits is crucial when studying optical storage media, as it highlights the physical mechanism through which data is encoded and retrieved. This physical representation is what distinguishes optical storage from other types like magnetic or solid-state memory, focusing on the unique technology utilized in DVDs.