One of the primary differences between a CD and an LP is how the music is stored and accessed. With an LP, the music is physically imprinted on the vinyl. The grooves in the record represent the actual sound waves of the music. CDs are made from a silicone-based material. The music is stored as a digital image on the CD as a binary snapshot. While the music on the vinyl LP is permanently imprinted, you can erase the music on the CD and use the CD to store new music.
CDs are more portable than LPs. CDs are smaller and take up less space. Put just a few or many CDs in a CD carrying case, and take the CDs with you when you travel. Listen to CDs with a portable CD player as you run, walk or sit in a coffeehouse, or enjoy them in your car as well. On the other hand, LPs are bulky and difficult to transport.
LPs seem more fragile than CDs. Each time you play them, the stylus or record needle makes physical contact with the vinyl, which can gradually wear the vinyl down. This results in the cracking and hissing sounds associated with old LPs. You also run the risk of scratching vinyl if you don't handle it properly. On the other hand, if you handle, store and clean your CDs properly, then they can last a long time. The life span of a CD is about 15 years, after which the silicone-based material begins to deteriorate. Because the data on a CD is read with a laser that doesn't require physical contact, CDs are less susceptible to scratches than LPs.
The tactile nature of vinyl is different from a CD. The LP has a record label mounted in the center, and the label itself has aesthetic characteristics. For example, the record labels on Atlantic Records and Capitol Records hold a significant place in the cultural history of recorded music because of artists such as Ray Charles and the Beatles. Covers also represent another important aesthetic difference. The larger size of the album cover presented a more artist-friendly medium, or canvas.