This DVD description has been adapted from Jim Taylor’s comprehensive DVD FAQ pages. Visit this site for everything you need to know about DVD, and more.

DVD, which stands for Digital Video Disc, or Digital Versatile Disc, is the next generation of optical disc storage technology. DVD is essentially a bigger, faster CD that can hold video as well as audio and computer data. DVD aims to encompass home entertainment, computers, and business information with a single digital format, eventually replacing audio CD, videotape, laserdisc, CD-ROM, and perhaps even video game cartridges. DVD has widespread support from all major electronics companies, all major computer hardware companies, and about half of the major movie and music studios, which is unprecedented and says much for its chances of success.

It’s important to understand the difference between DVD-Video and DVD-ROM. DVD-Video (often simply called DVD) holds video programs and is played in a DVD player hooked up to a TV. DVD-ROM holds computer data and is read by a DVD-ROM drive hooked up to a computer. The difference is similar to that between Audio CD and CD-ROM. Most new computers with DVD-ROM drives can also play DVD-Videos.