Strasbourg astronomical Data Centre (CDS) is dedicated to the collection and worldwide distribution of astronomical data and related information. The CDS mission is to collect useful information concerning astronomical objects that is available in computerized form ; upgrade these data by critical evaluations and comparisons; distribute the results to the astronomical community; and conduct research, using these data. It was created in 1972 as the Stellar Data Centre and changed its name to Strasbourg astronomical Data Centre in 1983. It has been a pioneer in the dissemination of added-value digital scientific data. Major milestones include the revolution of web technologies in the 1990's, and the development of the international Virtual Observatory starting in ~2000. CDS services are widely used by the astronomical community world wide (940 000 queries per day on the services in average in 2011). The CDS is labelled « Research Infrastructure » in the Research Infrastructure National Strategy 2012-2020 published by the French Ministère de l’Enseignement Supérieur et de la Recherche in 2012. It is an infrastructure of the Institut National des Sciences de l’Univers of the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, operated within an agreement with the Université de Strasbourg. It belongs to the Strasbourg Observatory, an Unité Mixte de Recherche of the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique and of the Université de Strasbourg.