CAD programs are based on reusable components, which move in relation to one another. They are used to design and develop products for end use by consumers or for intermediate goods used in other products.

CAD has revolutionized the aerospace, architecture, electronics and automotive industries. It is used in the electronic industry for PCB design, wiring diagrams and component connection management. CAD is widely used in the design of tools and machinery for the manufacture of components. CAD is used throughout the engineering process from conceptual design and layout to helping create detailed engineering and 3D models. It is used in architecture for the design and development of building structures.

Computer assisted or computer aided drafting are terms synonymous with CAD. Most CAD workstations are Windows based. The use of computers by designers in the aircraft and automotive industries can be traced back to the 1960s.

The most significant event in the development of CAD was in 1971 when Dr. P. J. Hanratty wrote the system ADAM (Automated Drafting And Machining) and supplied codes to conglomerates like McDonnell Douglas and Computervision.

The Sketchpad system developed at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology by Ivan Sutherland in 1963 was the turning point in CAD. The system allowed a designer to interact with the computer by drawing on a cathode ray tube monitor with a light pen.

Since then, CAD has evolved dramatically. The early 1980s brought advances in programming and computer hardware and with it 2D or solid modeling. The 1990s saw the evolution of 3D modeling capabilities. CAD now continues ne an integral part of design technology across many industries.

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