CD/DVD data carriers

The CDs/DVDs available in the market correspond to different standards. Not every CD/DVD can be read by every optical drive.

CD-ROM

Abbreviation for “Compact Disk - Read Only Memory”. A CD ROM is a CD storage medium, on which up to 700 Mbytes of digitised data is stored. However, this data cannot be changed and can only be read by an optical drive. In principle, CD-ROMs are read in the same way as audio CDs but cannot be used in audio equipment.

CD-R

Abbreviation for "Compact Disk Recordable". A CD-R can only be written once. Once a CD-R has been finalised, it is no longer possible to delete or edit the content of the CD-R.

CD-RW

Abbreviation for "Compact Disk ReWritable". A CD format that allows you to write to a CD any number of times using a CD- RW drive. You can then read the information as often as you wish. The CD-RW can be compared to a floppy disk, as it can be used for the repeated storage of data.

Not all older optical drives can read CD-RWs.

DVD

Abbreviation for "Digital Versatile Disk" or "Digital Video Disk". A DVD is a storage medium, similar to a CD, but with a higher memory capacity, which is achieved by narrower tracking. A DVD can be used in two positions, and on both sides (depending on the type), which means that the memory capacity can be 25 times that of a CD.

Because of the high memory capacity, DVD is particularly well suited for digitised films with additional features such as different languages or subtitles.

For DVD films, so-called regional codes were introduced in 1997, which are intended to prevent e.g. US DVDs from being

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