DVD

A DVD is a shiny disc.

It can hold many things. It holds movies and computer files. It also holds video games.

These discs can hold more than old CDs. Some discs have two layers. This helps them hold even more data. Some discs can be used many times. You can write and erase them.

Many people use them at home. They used to be more common than tapes. They are very useful tools.

A DVD is a special type of shiny disc.

It stores digital data. This means it holds things like movies, music, and computer files. DVDs can hold much more than a CD. A standard disc holds 4.7 GB of data. Some discs have two layers to hold even more. These can hold up to 8.5 GB.

Some special discs hold 17.08 GB. They have two layers on both sides.

There are different kinds of DVDs. Most movies come on DVD-ROM discs. You can read them, but you cannot change them. Other discs are for recording. DVD-R discs let you record data one time. DVD-RW discs are rewritable. This means you can record and erase them many times.

Many people use DVDs for fun. They use them to watch movies or play games. For example, the PlayStation 2 is a game console that uses DVDs.

In the early 2000s, DVDs became very popular. They even became more common than old video tapes.

A DVD is a way to store digital data on a shiny disc.

This format can hold many things like video programs, software, and computer files. DVDs are very useful because they hold much more information than a compact disc, or CD. Even though they hold more data, they are the same size as a CD. A single-layer DVD can hold up to 4.7 GB of data. A dual-layer disc can hold up to 8.5 GB. Some special discs with two layers on both sides hold up to 17.08 GB.

There are different ways these discs work depending on their type. Most movies come on DVD-ROM discs, which are made using molding machines. These machines physically stamp the data onto the disc. On these discs, you can only read the data, not write or erase it. Other discs are made for recording. A DVD-R or DVD+R disc can be recorded only one time. However, rewritable discs like the DVD-RW can be recorded and erased many times.

Creating the DVD was a big job involving many different companies. In 1995, two groups were making different types of discs. One group was backed by Philips and Sony, and they called their format the Digital Video Disc. Another group included companies like Toshiba and Hitachi, who supported the Super Density disc. Five computer companies, including IBM and Microsoft, wanted only one single format to exist. They even asked Lou Gerstner from IBM to help bring the groups together. Eventually, the groups agreed to combine their ideas into one standard.

The DVD format was first released in Japan on November 1, 1996. At first, it was used mostly for music videos. The first big movie releases from Warner Home Video arrived in December 1996. In the United States, the format launched in seven test markets on March 24, 1997. On its launch day, there were about 32 different titles available. These titles came from libraries like Warner Bros., MGM, and New Line. By the year 2001, DVD players were outselling VCRs in the United States.

You might recognize DVDs from things you use at home. Many people used them to watch movies instead of using old VHS tapes. They are also used in video game consoles. For example, the PlayStation 2 was the first console to run DVDs. Other systems like the Xbox and Xbox 360 also use them for games. Some people even use special DVD combos that work with a TV.

These discs helped change how we watch movies and play games.

A Digital Versatile Disc, or DVD, is a digital optical disc data storage format.

It is used to store many types of digital data, including video programs, software, and computer files. The name was changed to "digital versatile disc" in 1995 to show its flexibility for many uses. This change happened because computer companies wanted to ensure the format was used for more than just video. DVDs are very important because they hold much more information than a compact disc (CD). Even though they have more capacity, they are the same physical size as a CD.

Storage capacity depends on how many layers the disc has. A standard single-layer DVD can store up to 4.7 GB of data. A dual-layer DVD can hold up to 8.5 GB of data on a single side. There are also dual-layer, double-sided DVDs that can store a maximum of 17.08 GB.

These discs are made in different ways depending on their purpose. Prerecorded DVDs are mass-produced using molding machines. These machines physically stamp the data onto the disc. These are called DVD-ROMs because the data can only be read, not written or erased.

Other types of discs allow for recording and erasing data. Blank recordable discs, known as DVD-R and DVD+R, can be recorded only one time. Once they are written, they function like a DVD-ROM. There are also rewritable DVDs, such as DVD-RW, DVD+RW, and DVD-RAM. These specific types can be recorded and erased many times.

Some discs are even made of two separate discs. Each disc is 0.6 mm thick. They are glued together to form a single DVD. This process must be very careful. If the disc is not perfectly flat, it causes "disc tilt," which prevents the player from reading it.

The history of the DVD is a story of different companies working together. In 1993, formats like Video CD (VCD) were already being used for digital films. By 1994, two different groups were developing new formats. One group, backed by Philips and Sony, worked on the Multimedia Compact Disc (MMCD). Another group, including Toshiba and Hitachi, supported the Super Density (SD) disc. These two groups were in a competition to see which format would win.

In 1995, five major computer companies, including IBM, Apple, and Microsoft, stepped in. They did not want two different formats to exist. They threatened to boycott both formats unless the companies agreed on one single standard. They even asked Lou Gerstner, the president of IBM, to help pressure the executives. This led to a major compromise. The groups agreed to adopt a proposal called SD 9. This meant both layers of a dual-layered disc could be read from the same side. This prevented the need for a two-sided disc that users had to flip over.

After the groups unified on September 15, 1995, the DVD format was finalized. The format was first released in Japan on November 1, 1996. It was mostly used for music video releases at first. The first major movie releases came from Warner Home Video in December 1996. The United States launch happened in stages. It began in seven test markets on March 24, 1997. A nationwide rollout followed in August 1997. By 2001, DVD players were outselling VCRs in the United States for the first time.

DVDs changed how people enjoyed home entertainment. They helped movies replace the common VHS tape. Many people also used them for video games. The PlayStation 2 was the first video game console to run DVDs.

Other consoles like the Xbox and Xbox 360 also used DVDs for games and software. By 2007, about 80% of Americans owned a DVD player. This was a higher percentage than people who owned personal computers or cable television. DVDs became a central part of digital life for many years.