Here's why:

* Precision: Lasers emit a highly focused, coherent beam of light. This precision is essential for reading the tiny pits and lands on a CD that represent data.

* High Intensity: The intensity of the laser light allows it to reflect off the CD surface and be detected by a sensor.

* Specific Wavelength: The wavelength of the laser light is chosen to be reflected by the CD's reflective layer and absorbed by the plastic layer, ensuring accurate reading.

While some early CD-ROM drives used red lasers, modern drives utilize blue-violet lasers, offering a shorter wavelength and higher density, which allows for greater storage capacity.