A black box in an airplane refers to two critical flight recorders that are designed to store information about the aircraft's performance and operations. Despite their name, black boxes are usually bright orange to make them easier to locate after a crash. There are two types of black boxes:

1. Flight Data Recorder (FDR)
   
   

   • Records technical data about the flight, such as airspeed, altitude, engine performance, and control inputs.

   • Helps investigators understand the physical behavior of the aircraft before an accident.

2. Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR)
   
   

   • Captures audio from the cockpit, including pilot conversations, announcements, and background sounds like engine noise or alarms.

   • Provides insights into the crew's actions and decisions during flight.

Black boxes are ruggedly built to survive extreme conditions, such as high impact, intense heat, and underwater environments. They are essential tools for accident investigations and improving aviation safety.