A disc brake is a type of brake that uses the calipers to squeeze pairs of pads against a disc or a "rotor" to create friction.

This action slows the rotation of a shaft, such as a vehicle axle, either to reduce its rotational speed or to hold it stationary. The energy of motion is converted into waste heat which must be dispersed

The brake disc is the rotating part of a wheel's disc brake assembly, against which the brake pads are applied. The material is typically gray iron, a form of cast iron.

The design of the discs varies somewhat. Some are simply solid, but others are hollowed out with fins or vanes joining together the disc's two contact surfaces. The weight and power of the vehicle determine the need for ventilated discs. The "ventilated" disc design helps to dissipate the generated heat and is commonly used on the more-heavily loaded front discs.

Hydraulically actuated disc brakes are the most commonly used form of brake for motor vehicles, but the principles of a disc brake are applicable to almost any rotating shaft. The components include the disc, master cylinder, caliper (which contains cylinder and two brake pads) on both sides of the disc.

The development of disc-type brakes began in England in the 1890s. In 1902, the Lanchester Motor Company designed brakes that looked and operated in a similar way to a modern disc-brake system even though the disc was thin and a cable activated the brake pad.

More Info: en.m.wikipedia.org