Cubic cadmium sulphide (CdS) thin films with (111) preferential orientation were prepared by chemical bath deposition (CBD) technique, using the reaction between NH(4)OH, CdSO(4) and CS(NH(2))(2). The films properties have been investigated as a function of bath temperature and deposition time. Structural properties of the obtained films were studied by X-ray diffraction analysis. The structural parameters such as crystallite size have been evaluated. The transmission spectra, recorded in the UV visible range reveal a relatively high transmission coefficient (70%) in the obtained films. The transmittance data analysis indicates that the optical band gap is closely related to the deposition conditions, a direct band gap ranging from 2.0 eV to 2.34 eV was deduced. The electrical characterization shows that CdS films' dark conductivities can be controlled either by the deposition time or the bath temperature. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.