Meaning of dvd (what is it, concept and definition)

What is DVD:

A DVD is an optical disc for the digital storage of image, sound and data, with greater capacity than a compact disc or CD.

DVD stands for Digital Versatile Disc , an English expression that we can translate as "digital versatile disc".

The DVD was first introduced to the market in 1995, at which time it was specially conceived as a video medium that would replace VHS. For this reason, in its origins the initials corresponded to the term digital video disk .

The benefits of DVD as a storage device for all kinds of digital data were quickly understood and exploited, which has led to the development of various types of DVD according to user requirements.

General characteristics of the DVD

• It has a standard measurement of 120 mm in diameter. Its signal is digital. As a read / write mechanism it requires a red laser. It allows saving information with a high level of quality. It stores much more information than a CD. The capacity of a DVD varies from a minimum of 4.7 GB to 17.1 GB.

DVD Features

Originally the DVD was conceived for the transmission of high quality audiovisuals. As we have said, it competed with VHS tapes, nowadays disappeared from the market.

However, its development allowed several uses, such as storing video and audio, interactive applications, software support, mannerism backup or backup , etc.

See also Backup.

DVD types

According to the capacity and format

The capacity of a DVD as well as its use depends on its conformation. Some are made up of a single layer or a double layer. DVDs with a single layer have 4.7 GB of data; the double-layer ones have a storage capacity of approximately 8.55 GB. A comparative table will give us, however, a clearer idea of ​​the quantity and diversity of DVDs that are available in the market:

There are also double-sided DVDs, that is, they can be written on both sides, which allows an increase in storage capacity. These can reach up to a capacity of 17.1 GB. Among them are the models known as DVD 10, DVD 14 and DVD 18. Let's see:

According to the content

In ordinary language, DVDs are usually classified according to the type of content they store. Thus, we talk about:

• Video DVD; Audio DVD; Data DVD.

The latter allows you to save all kinds of files, including text files, such as a pentdrive or an external hard drive.

See also Cloud (computing).

Advantages and disadvantages of DVD

Among the advantages of DVD we can mention that it allows storing a lot of data avoiding the excessive use of computer space, it also allows storing high quality video and audio, which makes it excellent for collecting movies; they take up little physical space; Virgin DVDs are affordable; They do not degrade over time and can be played on various devices.

Among its disadvantages we can mention that they require physical distribution; The constant updating of the DVD makes the reading equipment stop being compatible with the new discs. Also, DVD burners are usually expensive. Finally, even though they are easy to store and take up much less space than a VHS tape, they always take up some space that can be made available for other uses.

Today DVDs face the onslaught of other devices with greater storage capacity and better sound and image quality, such as HD DVD and Blue Ray . In addition, their use as data storage devices competes with the cloud and other backup systems. It is no wonder that many computers today do not include a DVD player.