Soda fountains, also known as soda dispensers, drink dispensers, or just fountains, are popular fixtures in diners, restaurants and convenience stores. They dispense carbonated drinks like sodas, soft drinks, and other beverages. These fountains are usually self-service machines where customers can fill up their cups with their drink of choice. Some other synonyms for soda fountains include beverage dispensers, beverage stations, drink stations, and pop dispensers. These machines have come a long way from the soda jerk era where servers would manually prepare drinks behind the fountain, but the concept remains the same. Today, there are modern versions of soda fountains, offering a wide range of drink choices, and can be found in many locations around the world.