Special feature: Historical. Collision‐induced dissociation: Readings and commentary

Abstract Collision‐induced dissociation (CID), also known as collision‐activated dissociation (CAD), is now central to the practice of mass spectrometry. The story of its discovery, fundamental basis, and its development as a technique applicable to different types of instruments has evolved over many decades. In this paper, these topics are explored by reference to and commentary on particular texts, chosen to represent milestones in the development of CID over the period 1910–1970.