Carbonated soft drinks or just soft drinks, is a beverage typically containing water, sweetening and flavoring. The sweetener may be sugar, syrup, fruit juice or sugar substitutes. Soft drinks are called "soft" in contrast to "hard drinks" (alcoholic beverages).​

Manufacturing carbonated soft drinks can be divided into the following sub-processes: preparation of sugar solutions, water deaeration, blending and mixing of flavors and concentrates, carbonation and then packaging.

Water is de-aired to avoid reactions that destroy the aromatic substances (oxidation). If the drink is to be carbonated, water is 'impregnated' with carbon dioxide. It is chilled and carbon dioxide is dissolved in the water under high pressure. It is important that all the air has been removed otherwise the drink will froth over when the package is opened.