Blu-ray disc is a next-generation optical disc format that can store high-definition video and large amounts of data using a blue-violet laser. It was developed in 2002 by a group of leading technology companies and can hold up to 50GB of data on a dual-layer disc. Blu-ray disc offers over five times the storage capacity of DVDs and uses advanced encryption to help prevent illegal copying of content. Some key applications of Blu-ray disc include high definition television recording, video distribution, and mass data storage.