What are the differences between the various kinds of CD and DVD discs?

The following table describes the different kinds of CDs and DVDs and provides information about their appropriate use.

Disc
 General information
 Capacity
 Compatibility

CD-ROM
 Known as a read-only disc, usually used to store commercial programs and data. You can't add or delete information on a CD-ROM.
 650 MB
 Highly compatible with most computers and devices.

CD-R
 You can burn files to a CD-R more than once (each time is referred to as a session), but you can't delete files from a Mastered disc. Each burn is permanent.
 650 MB

700 MB
 You must close the session to read this disc in a different computer. Highly compatible with most computers and devices.

CD-RW
 You can burn files to a CD-RW more than once. You can also delete unwanted files from the disc to reclaim space and add additional files. A CD-RW can be burned and erased many times.
 650 MB
 Compatible with many computers and devices.

DVD-ROM
 Known as a read-only disc, usually used to store commercial programs and data. You can't add or delete information on a DVD-ROM.
 4.7 GB
 Highly compatible with most computers and devices.

DVD-R
 You can burn files to a DVD-R more than once (each time is referred to as a session), but you can't delete files from the disc. Each burn is permanent.
 4.7 GB
 You must close the session to read this disc in a different computer. Highly compatible with most computers and devices.

DVD+R
 You can burn files to a DVD+R more than once (each time is referred to as a session), but you can't delete files from the disc. Each burn is permanent.
 4.7 GB
 You must close the session to read this disc in a different computer. Compatible with many computers and devices.

DVD-RW
 You can burn files to a DVD-RW more than once (each time is referred to as a session). You can also delete unwanted files from the disc to reclaim space and add additional files. A DVD-RW can be burned and erased many times.
 4.7 GB
 You don't need to close the session to read this disc in another computer. Compatible with many computers and devices.

DVD+RW
 You can burn files to a DVD+RW more than once (each time is referred to as a session). You can also delete unwanted files from the disc to reclaim space and add additional files. A DVD+RW can be burned and erased many times.
 4.7 GB
 You don't need to close the session to read this disc in another computer. Compatible with many computers and devices.

DVD-RAM
 You can burn files to a DVD-RAM more than once. You can also delete unwanted files from the disc to reclaim space and add additional files. A DVD-RAM can be burned and erased many times.
 2.6 GB

4.7 GB

5.2 GB

9.4 GB
 DVD-RAM discs can generally be used only in DVD-RAM drives and might not be readable by DVD players and other devices.

DVD-R DL
 You can burn files to a DVD-R DL more than once (each time is referred to as a session), but you can't delete files from a Mastered disc. Each burn is permanent.
 8.5 GB
 You must close the session to read this disc in a different computer. Compatible with some computers and many newer DVD players.

DVD+R DL
 You can burn files to a DVD+R DL more than once (each time is referred to as a session), but you can't delete files from a Mastered disc. Each burn is permanent.
 8.5 GB
 You must close the session to read this disc in a different computer. Compatible with some computers and many newer DVD players.

BD-R
 You can burn files to a BD-R once (in one session), but you can't delete files from the disc. Each burn is permanent.
 25 GB
 You must close the session to read this disc in a different computer. Compatible with computers running Windows 7.

BD-R DL
 You can burn files to a BD-R DL once (in one session), but you can't delete files from the disc. Each burn is permanent.
 50 GB
 You must close the session to read this disc in a different computer. Compatible with computers running Windows 7.

BD-RE
 You can burn files to a BD-RE more than once (each time is referred to as a session). You can also delete unwanted files from the disc to reclaim space and add additional files. A BD-RE can be burned and erased many times.
 25 GB
 You don't need to close the session to read this disc in another computer. Compatible with computers running Windows 7.

BD-RE DL
 You can burn files to a BD-RE DL more than once (each time is referred to as a session). You can also delete unwanted files from the disc to reclaim space and add additional files. A BD-RE DL can be burned and erased many times.
 50 GB
 You don't need to close the session to read this disc in another computer. Compatible with computers running Windows 7.


For more information about setting the options for closing a session when a disc is ejected, see Close or finalize a CD or DVD.

Note
For another computer to be able to read a Blu-ray Disc, that computer must have a Blu-ray Disc burner. For another computer to be able to read a DVD disc, that computer must have a DVD or Blu-ray drive. CDs can be used in both CD and DVD drives, and in most (but not all) Blu-ray drives.