(Digital VideoDisc or Digital Versatile Disc) An optical digital disc for storing movies and data. Introduced in the U.S. in 1997, and developed by both the computer and movie industries, the disc uses the same diameter platter as a CD (120mm/4.75" diameter), but holds 4.7GB rather than 700MB. Whereas CDs use only one side, DVDs can be recorded on both sides as well as in dual layers. DVD drives/players read most CD media as well. See CSS and DVD region codes.
For 2x, 4x, 8x, etc. drive specifications, see DVD drives.
Standard Definition Movie DVDs
DVD-Video is the movie format, which uses MPEG-2 compression to provide approximately two hours of video per side at standard definition TV resolution (480i resolution). When most people mention the word "DVD," they are referring to a DVD-Video disc. See DVD-Video and DTV.
High Definition Movie DVDs
Blu-ray and HD DVD are two competing formats that have enough storage for two hour high-definition movies (1080i resolution). See Blu-ray, HD DVD and table of capacity comparisons below.
Read-Only DVDs
A DVD-ROM.html">DVD-ROM is like a CD-ROM and holds data, audio and video. Like CD-ROMs, DVD-ROM.html">DVD-ROMs are manufactured. See DVD-ROM.html">DVD-ROM.
Writable/Recordable DVDs
A DVD-RAM.html">DVD-RAM is a rewritable DVD that functions like a removable hard disk. DVD-RAM.html">DVD-RAM media can be rewritten 100,000 times before it is no longer usable. See DVD-RAM.html">DVD-RAM.
DVD-R and DVD+R are competing write-once formats for movies or data. DVD-RW and DVD+RW are competing rewritable (re-recordable) formats that unlike DVD-RAM.html">DVD-RAM's 100,000 cycles, can only be rewritten 1,000 times. Aimed at the consumer, 1,000 rewrites is considered more than sufficient. See DVD-R, DVD+R, DVD-RW and DVD+RW.
Music DVDs
DVD-Audio is a second-generation digital music format that provides higher sampling rates than audio CDs. Many welcomed the new format, believing that the original audio CD was unable to capture the total sound spectrum, but it never took off. See DVD-Audio.
DVD Stands For?
Originally, "Digital VideoDisc." Since the technology became important to the computer world, the "video" was dropped, and it was just D-V-D. Later, it was dubbed "Digital Versatile Disc" by the DVD Forum. Take your pick.
Minus (-R/-RW) and Plus (+R/+RW)
The formats endorsed by the DVD Forum (www.dvdforum.org) have a hyphen in their names and are verbalized as "DVD Minus R" or "DVD Dash R" (DVD-R) and "DVD Minus RW" or "DVD Dash RW" (DVD-RW). The competing formats from the DVD+RW Alliance (www.dvdrw.com) use a plus sign: "DVD Plus R" (DVD+R) and "DVD Plus RW" (DVD+RW). Starting in 2002, drives that supported both Minus and Plus formats were introduced. See DVD Forum and DVD+RW Alliance.
Specifications
Following are the various DVD types and capacities. Also included are the high-definition (HD) formats (see Blu-ray and HD DVD). See also DTV.
Sides and Layers
DVDs come in any combination of single or double sided with single or double layers. This shows the laser beam contacting the recorded surface in all of the possibilities.
DVD Vs. CD-ROM
At minimum, the capacity of a DVD is seven times that of a CD-ROM because its tracks, pits and lands are more than twice as dense. It also uses more efficient recording algorithms. Add a second layer or record on both sides of the DVD, and capacity is doubled. (Image courtesy of C-Cube Microsystems.)
For 2x, 4x, 8x, etc. drive specifications, see DVD drives.
Standard Definition Movie DVDs
DVD-Video is the movie format, which uses MPEG-2 compression to provide approximately two hours of video per side at standard definition TV resolution (480i resolution). When most people mention the word "DVD," they are referring to a DVD-Video disc. See DVD-Video and DTV.
High Definition Movie DVDs
Blu-ray and HD DVD are two competing formats that have enough storage for two hour high-definition movies (1080i resolution). See Blu-ray, HD DVD and table of capacity comparisons below.
Read-Only DVDs
A DVD-ROM.html">DVD-ROM is like a CD-ROM and holds data, audio and video. Like CD-ROMs, DVD-ROM.html">DVD-ROMs are manufactured. See DVD-ROM.html">DVD-ROM.
Writable/Recordable DVDs
A DVD-RAM.html">DVD-RAM is a rewritable DVD that functions like a removable hard disk. DVD-RAM.html">DVD-RAM media can be rewritten 100,000 times before it is no longer usable. See DVD-RAM.html">DVD-RAM.
DVD-R and DVD+R are competing write-once formats for movies or data. DVD-RW and DVD+RW are competing rewritable (re-recordable) formats that unlike DVD-RAM.html">DVD-RAM's 100,000 cycles, can only be rewritten 1,000 times. Aimed at the consumer, 1,000 rewrites is considered more than sufficient. See DVD-R, DVD+R, DVD-RW and DVD+RW.
Music DVDs
DVD-Audio is a second-generation digital music format that provides higher sampling rates than audio CDs. Many welcomed the new format, believing that the original audio CD was unable to capture the total sound spectrum, but it never took off. See DVD-Audio.
DVD Stands For?
Originally, "Digital VideoDisc." Since the technology became important to the computer world, the "video" was dropped, and it was just D-V-D. Later, it was dubbed "Digital Versatile Disc" by the DVD Forum. Take your pick.
Minus (-R/-RW) and Plus (+R/+RW)
The formats endorsed by the DVD Forum (www.dvdforum.org) have a hyphen in their names and are verbalized as "DVD Minus R" or "DVD Dash R" (DVD-R) and "DVD Minus RW" or "DVD Dash RW" (DVD-RW). The competing formats from the DVD+RW Alliance (www.dvdrw.com) use a plus sign: "DVD Plus R" (DVD+R) and "DVD Plus RW" (DVD+RW). Starting in 2002, drives that supported both Minus and Plus formats were introduced. See DVD Forum and DVD+RW Alliance.
Specifications
Following are the various DVD types and capacities. Also included are the high-definition (HD) formats (see Blu-ray and HD DVD). See also DTV.
Type Sides Layers Capacity Read Only Standard Definition DVD-Video/DVD-ROM.html">DVD-ROM 1 1 4.7GB (DVD-5) DVD-Video/DVD-ROM.html">DVD-ROM 1 2 8.5GB (DVD-9) DVD-Video/DVD-ROM.html">DVD-ROM 2 1 9.4GB (DVD-10) DVD-Video/DVD-ROM.html">DVD-ROM 2 2 17.0GB (DVD-18) Read Only High Definition Blu-ray (BD-ROM) 1 1 25.0GB Blu-ray (BD-ROM) 1 2 50.0GB Blu-ray (BD-ROM) 2 1 50.0GB HD DVD-ROM 1 1 15.0GB HD DVD-ROM 1 2 30.0GB HD DVD-ROM 1 3 45.0GB Write Once Standard Definition DVD-R (A) 1 1 4.7GB DVD-R (G) 1 1 4.7GB DVD-R (G) 2 1 9.4GB DVD-R DL 1 2 8.5GB DVD+R 1 1 4.7GB DVD+R DL 1 2 8.5GB Write Once High Definition Blu-ray (BD-R) 1 1 25.0GB Blu-ray (BD-R) 1 2 50.0GB HD DVD-R 1 1 15.0GB HD DVD-R 1 2 30.0GB See Blu-ray and HD DVD. Type Sides Layers Capacity Rewritable Standard Definition (100K cycles) DVD-RAM.html">DVD-RAM Ver. 1 1 1 2.6GB DVD-RAM.html">DVD-RAM Ver. 1 2 1 5.2GB DVD-RAM.html">DVD-RAM Ver. 2 1 1 4.7GB DVD-RAM.html">DVD-RAM Ver. 2 2 1 9.4GB DVD-RAM.html">DVD-RAM (80 mm) 1 1 1.46GB DVD-RAM.html">DVD-RAM (80 mm) 2 1 2.92GB Rewritable Standard Definition (1K cycles) (Also called "Re-recordable") DVD-RW 1 1 4.7GB DVD-RW 2 1 9.4GB DVD+RW 1 1 4.7GB DVD+RW 2 1 9.4GB Rewritable High Definition (10K cycles) Blu-ray (BD RE) 1 1 25.0GB Blu-ray (BD RE) 1 2 50.0GB HD DVD Rewritable 1 1 15.0GB HD DVD Rewritable 1 2 30.0GB HD DVD Rewritable 1 3 45.0GB See Blu-ray and HD DVD.
Sides and Layers
DVDs come in any combination of single or double sided with single or double layers. This shows the laser beam contacting the recorded surface in all of the possibilities.
DVD Vs. CD-ROM
At minimum, the capacity of a DVD is seven times that of a CD-ROM because its tracks, pits and lands are more than twice as dense. It also uses more efficient recording algorithms. Add a second layer or record on both sides of the DVD, and capacity is doubled. (Image courtesy of C-Cube Microsystems.)
 | Reproduced with permission from Computer Desktop Encyclopedia. Copyright (c) 1981-2007 The Computer Language Company Inc. All rights reserved. |
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