# DVD

> optical disc format for the storage and playback of digital video and other digital data

**Wikidata**: [Q5294](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q5294)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DVD)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/dvd

## Summary
DVD is an optical disc format designed for the storage and playback of digital video and other digital data. As a type of optical disc, it is primarily utilized for physical data distribution and long-term archival purposes.

## Key Facts
*   DVD is an optical disc format for the storage and playback of digital video and other digital data.
*   It is a subclass of optical disc and machine-readable medium.
*   The standard diameter of a DVD is 12 centimetres.
*   The DVD format is owned by Sony Group.
*   DVD was preceded by formats such as the compact disc, LaserDisc, and VHS.
*   The Blu-ray Disc format followed the DVD.
*   Aliases for DVD include "DVD discs," "Disco de Video Digital," and "Disque Numérique Polyvalent."
*   Specific DVD formats include DVD-ROM for computer data, DVD-Video for consumer video, and DVD-Audio, which was incepted in 2000.

## FAQs
### Q: What is a DVD?
A: A DVD is an optical disc format specifically designed for the storage and playback of digital video and other digital data. It functions as a physical medium for data distribution and archival.

### Q: What is the physical size of a DVD?
A: A standard DVD has a diameter of 12 centimetres.

### Q: What technologies did the DVD succeed and precede?
A: The DVD was preceded by formats like the compact disc, LaserDisc, and VHS. It was later followed by the Blu-ray Disc format.

### Q: Who owns the DVD format?
A: The DVD format is owned by the Sony Group.

### Q: What are some common types of DVDs?
A: Common types include DVD-ROM for computer data, DVD-Video for consumer video content, and DVD-Audio for high-fidelity sound. There are also recordable versions like DVD±R and DVD recordable discs.

## Why It Matters
The DVD format marked a significant advancement in digital media storage and distribution, becoming a ubiquitous standard for home entertainment and data archiving. As an optical disc, it offered substantially greater storage capacity than its predecessor, the compact disc, enabling the widespread adoption of digital video content in a convenient, durable physical format. Its versatility allowed for the storage of not only movies and television shows (DVD-Video) but also high-quality audio (DVD-Audio) and general computer data (DVD-ROM), making it a multifaceted tool for consumers and industries alike. The DVD's introduction facilitated the transition from analog video formats like VHS to digital, providing superior picture and sound quality, interactive menus, and additional content. Its success paved the way for subsequent optical disc technologies, solidifying the optical disc as a key medium for physical media distribution for decades.

## Notable For
*   **Versatile Digital Storage:** Served as a primary optical disc format for both digital video and other digital data, supporting various content types from movies to computer software.
*   **Standardized Physical Dimensions:** Maintained a consistent 12-centimetre diameter, making it compatible with a wide range of playback and recording devices.
*   **Successor to Compact Disc:** Significantly advanced optical media technology by offering greater storage capacity compared to the compact disc, enabling full-length feature films in digital quality.
*   **Wide Range of Specialized Formats:** Encompassed numerous sub-formats like DVD-Video, DVD-Audio, DVD-ROM, and recordable versions (DVD±R), catering to diverse consumer and professional needs.
*   **Industry Ownership:** The format is notably owned by the Sony Group, a major player in consumer electronics and media.

## Body

### Definition and Core Function
DVD is an optical disc format primarily used for the storage and playback of digital video and other digital data. It is classified as a physical media format and an audio release format, serving as a machine-readable medium.

### Classification and Related Formats
DVD is a subclass of an optical disc, which is a flat and usually circular disc encoding binary data, primarily used for physical data distribution and long-term archival.

**Parent/Part of:**
*   optical disc
*   DVD±R (General term for both DVD+R and DVD-R storage media)
*   DualDisc (double-sided optical disc)
*   DVD cover (covering used to protect and contain DVDs)
*   DVD-ROM (pre-pressed DVD that contains computer data)
*   DVD-D (self-destructing disposable DVDs)
*   DVD-Video (consumer video format used to store digital video on DVD discs)
*   DVD card (DVD with the size and shape of a business card)
*   DVD-Audio (DVD format, incepted in 2000)
*   DVD recordable (any type of Digital Versatile Disc writable by end users)
*   MiniDVD (optical storage)
*   Sprm (Storage register of a DVD)
*   Xbox game media (optical media format used by the original Xbox game console)

**Preceded by:**
*   compact disc (digital optical disc data storage format, incepted in 1979)
*   CD-RW (compact disc format that can be erased and rewritten)
*   VHS
*   LaserDisc

**Followed by:**
*   Blu-ray Disc

### Physical Characteristics
The standard diameter of a DVD is 12 centimetres.

### Ownership
The DVD format is owned by the Sony Group.

### Related Technologies and Media
*   **DVD drive:** A disk drive specifically designed for DVDs.
*   **DVD-RW drive:** An optical drive capable of both reading and writing DVDs.
*   **DVD Decrypter:** A freeware application related to DVDs.
*   Various media releases, such as "Manic Depression" (2005 DVD by Muse) and "Christmas in My Heart" (2006 live DVD by Sarah Connor), have been released on DVD.

### Aliases
The DVD is also known by aliases such as DVD discs, Disco de Video Digital, Disco versatil digital, Disco Versátil Digital, Deuvedé, Devedé, Deuvede, Disco de vídeo digital, and Devede, Disque Numérique Polyvalent.

### Unicode Character
The unicode character for DVD is 📀.

```json
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Thing",
  "name": "DVD",
  "description": "optical disc format for the storage and playback of digital video and other digital data",
  "sameAs": [
    "https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q11289",
    "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DVD"
  ],
  "additionalType": [
    "https://schema.org/PhysicalMediaFormat",
    "https://schema.org/AudioReleaseFormat"
  ]
}

## References

1. Integrated Authority File
2. [Nuovo soggettario](https://thes.bncf.firenze.sbn.it/termine.php?id=6025)
3. Nuovo soggettario
4. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
5. YSO-Wikidata mapping project
6. Quora
7. National Library of Israel
8. KBpedia
9. [OpenAlex](https://docs.openalex.org/download-snapshot/snapshot-data-format)