Chemical mechanical polishing pads having a window with an integral identification feature, wherein the window has a polishing face and a nonpolishing face, wherein the integral identification feature is observable through the window, and wherein the integral identification feature identifies the chemical mechanical polishing pad as a type of chemical mechanical polishing pad selected from a plurality of types of chemical mechanical polishing pads. Also provided is a method of making such chemical mechanical polishing pads and for using them to polish a substrate selected from a magnetic substrate, an optical substrate and a semiconductor substrate.