Today disc brakes are on the front of virtually every car, but it took decades for them to replace drums. Their story is really about the fight against brake fade. Here is a short history of disc brakes.
Early idea, slow adoption
The disc brake was patented around the turn of the 20th century, but early materials and manufacturing were not up to it, so drum brakes dominated for decades; see how drum brakes work. Drums were cheap and effective enough for the speeds of the day.
Racing proved them
Disc brakes made their name in motorsport in the 1950s, when a famous endurance-racing win showed they could stop repeatedly from high speed without fading - the weakness that plagued drums; see brake fade and drum vs disc.
From option to standard
Through the 1960s and 70s, front disc brakes spread from performance cars to mainstream models, and eventually became standard front equipment. Four-wheel discs followed on faster and heavier cars; see how disc brakes work.
Why they won
Discs won because they shed heat in the open air and resist fade far better than enclosed drums - critical as cars got faster and heavier. Modern brakes build on that same principle. Fit quality pads and hardware.