A vinyl record (also called a gramophone record or simply "vinyl") is a flat disc made from polyvinyl chloride (PVC) that stores analog audio in a continuous spiral groove running from the outer edge toward the center. A turntable spins the record at a constant speed while a stylus (needle) traces the groove's microscopic undulations, converting them into electrical signals that become sound through speakers.
Vinyl records come in three standard sizes: 12-inch (typically LPs at 33⅓ RPM), 10-inch (historically 78 RPM), and 7-inch (typically singles at 45 RPM). The format was the primary medium for music distribution from the 1950s through the 1980s, when CDs began to dominate. However, vinyl has experienced a massive resurgence since the 2010s, with sales surpassing CDs in the US since 2020.
Collectors and audiophiles value vinyl for its warm, analog sound character, the tactile experience of handling physical media, and the large-format album artwork. The ritual of selecting a record, placing it on the turntable, and dropping the needle is a deliberate, mindful way to listen to music that stands in sharp contrast to algorithmic streaming.
The longest vinyl record ever made plays for over 4 hours — it's a 12-inch disc pressed at 3⅓ RPM (one-tenth normal speed) by The Boredoms.