DVD-R

Definition

DVD-R is a DVD recordable format. A DVD-R typically has a storage capacity of 4.71 GB (or 4.39 GiB), although the capacity of the original standard developed by Pioneer was 3.95 GB (3.68 GiB).

Overview

Both values are significantly larger than the storage capacity of its optical predecessor, the 700 MB CD-R — a DVD-R has 6.4 times the capacity of a CD-R. Pioneer also developed an 8.54 GB dual layer version, DVD-R DL, which appeared on the market in 2005.

Data on a DVD-R cannot be changed, whereas a DVD-R(W) (DVD-rewritable) can be rewritten multiple (1000+) times. DVD-R(W) is one of three competing industry standard DVD recordable formats; the others are DVD+R(W) and DVD-RAM.