DVD is an optical disc storage format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions.
Pre-recorded DVDs are mass-produced using moulding machines that physically stamp data onto the DVD. Such discs are known as DVD-ROM, because data can only be read and not written nor erased. Blank recordable DVD discs (DVD-R and DVD+R) can be recorded once using a DVD recorder and then function as a DVD-ROM. Rewritable DVDs (DVD-RW, DVD+RW, and DVD-RAM) can be recorded and erased multiple times.
DVDs are used in DVD-Video consumer digital video format and in DVD-Audio consumer digital audio format, as well as for authoring AVCHD discs. DVDs containing other types of information may be referred to as DVD data discs
The DVD is made of a spiral groove read or written starting at the center. The form of the groove encodes unalterable identification data known as Media Identification Code (MID).
A photo of a blank rewritable Blu-ray disc. These ...
English: Regions of the world for the Blu-ray stan...
English: Back of a Blu-ray Disc. I took this.The MID contains pre-recorded information as to who really manufactures the disc, under a certain brand name that the consumer is more familiar with. Also included is the byte capacity and permitted burning speeds (dependent on both the recorder, or burner, as well as what the disc can handle). This information can be read on many disc authoring software products.
A MID code is generally seen to be more reassuring for individuals whose priority is the long-term storage of their data than just buying for the sake of a brand name. However, not all MID codes are produced in the same way. For example, Internet club Club MyCE, which specialises in disc burning, consensually swear that anything not produced by Japanese disc manufacturers Verbatim or Taiyo Yuden will be of inferior burning quality and offer shorter longevity...