The digital versatile disc, or DVD as it is more commonly known, is an data storage format that was first developed in 1997 by the DVD Forum. It is an optical disc format that was designed to replace Laserdisks and the CD-ROM format. DVDs use the same physical dimensions as CDs, with a slightly larger data storage capacity and a broader range of features.
There are five different variants of DVD: DVD-ROM (Read Only Memory), DVD-R (Recordable), DVD-RW (ReWritable), DVD+R (Recordable), and DVD+RW (ReWritable). The DVD-ROM is used for installing computer programs, traditional console game formats, and for storing movies and other media files. DVD-R and DVD-RW are both used to burn content onto a blank disc, while DVD+R and DVD+RW are used by computers and DVD players to playback.
DVDs have become the standard for home media consumption, with movies and television programmes being released in both physical DVD format, creative DVD Boxsets and HD DVD/Blu-Ray formats. Despite this, digital downloads and streaming services such as Netflix, have become popular and decreased physical DVD sales.
DVDs are read by a device called an Optical Disc Drive. They consist of a laser and a motor which use light to read the information this is stored on the disc. A variety of different drive types are available, including Internal, External USB, and internal/External Blu-Ray drives.
An internal drive, which is built into the computer itself, connects to the motherboard via an IDE or SATA cable with a power connector, while an External USB drive requires an external power adapter or USB cable. Blu-Ray drives are similar to an Internal drive, but they use Blu-Ray technology to playback HD movies/television programmes.
Overall, the digital versatile disc is a reliable form of media storage for most types of media, from personal data, videos, movies, and television shows. It is a popular choice for those who want an easy and efficient way to store and stream digital content.
