## .ISO Is an Optical Disc File Format An ISO, or ISO image, is a file format that captures the complete, uncompressed data content of an optical disc like a CD, DVD, or Blu-ray. These files are often used to create backups of discs, distribute software, games, and operating systems over the internet, or archive media content. With the help of various software tools, ISO files can be opened, extracted, and burned onto blank optical discs or mounted as virtual drives on a computer, allowing you to access their contents without needing physical media.