# DVD±R

> General term for both DVD+R and DVD-R storage media

**Wikidata**: [Q1036308](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1036308)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DVD±R)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/dvdr

## Summary  
DVD±R is the collective name for the two consumer‑recordable DVD formats, DVD+R and DVD‑R. It designates a write‑once, read‑many optical disc that belongs to the DVD family and can be recorded by end users.

## Key Facts  
- DVD±R is a **recording medium** (instance of “recording medium”).  
- It is a **subclass of DVD**, **DVD recordable**, and **write‑once read many** storage devices.  
- The term covers both **DVD+R** and **DVD‑R** formats (aliases: DVD‑R, DVD+R, DVD‑R DL, DVD+R DL, DVD±R, DVD+/-R).  
- DVD±R is **different from DVD‑RAM**, which is a rewritable DVD format.  
- The Wikipedia entry for DVD±R exists in five languages (de, en, ko, pl, tr) and has a sitelink count of **5**.  
- An illustrative image of a DVD±R disc is available at: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Zerstoerte_DVD.jpg.  
- In Freebase, DVD±R is identified by the ID **/m/03fmg3** (source dated 2013‑10‑28).  

## FAQs  
### Q: What does the “±” symbol mean in DVD±R?  
A: The “±” indicates that the term includes **both** DVD+R and DVD‑R formats, covering the two compatible write‑once DVD standards.  

### Q: Can a DVD±R disc be played in any DVD player?  
A: DVD±R discs are **write‑once, read‑many** media; most modern DVD players that support DVD‑R or DVD+R will also read DVD±R discs, but compatibility depends on the player’s supported format.  

### Q: How is DVD±R different from DVD‑RAM?  
A: DVD±R is a **write‑once** medium, whereas DVD‑RAM is a **rewritable** DVD format; they belong to separate classes of optical storage.  

## Why It Matters  
DVD±R unifies the two dominant consumer recordable DVD standards under a single term, simplifying discussion of write‑once optical media. By being a subclass of both the broader DVD family and the “write‑once read many” category, DVD±R provides a clear classification for devices and software that need to support user‑recordable discs. Its compatibility with a wide range of DVD players and recorders made it a practical choice for data backup, video distribution, and personal media archiving before the rise of high‑capacity flash storage. Understanding DVD±R helps users select the right media for their needs and clarifies its distinction from rewritable formats like DVD‑RAM, ensuring reliable data preservation and playback across compatible hardware.  

## Notable For  
- **Dual‑format coverage**: Explicitly includes both DVD+R and DVD‑R under one term.  
- **Write‑once, read‑many design**: Guarantees data integrity after recording, unlike rewritable formats.  
- **Clear classification**: Listed as a subclass of DVD, DVD recordable, and write‑once read many, aiding taxonomy in media libraries.  
- **Distinct from DVD‑RAM**: Explicitly marked as “different from” the rewritable DVD‑RAM format.  
- **Multilingual documentation**: Wikipedia entries exist in five languages, reflecting its global relevance.  

## Body  

### Definition  
DVD±R is a **general term** that refers to the two consumer‑grade recordable DVD formats: **DVD+R** and **DVD‑R**. Both formats allow users to write data once and then read it repeatedly.

### Classification  
- **Instance of**: recording medium.  
- **Subclass of**:  
  - **DVD** – the broader optical disc family used for video and data.  
  - **DVD recordable** – any DVD that can be written by end users.  
  - **Write once read many** – a storage class where data cannot be altered after writing.  

### Relationship to Other Formats  
- **Different from DVD‑RAM**: DVD‑RAM is a rewritable DVD format, whereas DVD±R is write‑once.  
- **Aliases**: DVD‑R, DVD+R, DVD‑R DL (dual‑layer), DVD+R DL, DVD±R, DVD+/-R.  

### Compatibility and Usage  
- DVD±R discs are designed for **consumer recording devices** (e.g., DVD burners) and are **readable by most DVD players** that support either DVD+R or DVD‑R.  
- The “±” notation signals that a device or software that supports DVD±R should handle **both** underlying formats.  

### Documentation and Identifiers  
- **Freebase ID**: /m/03fmg3 (reference dated 2013‑10‑28).  
- **Wikipedia**: Article titled “DVD±R” with entries in German, English, Korean, Polish, and Turkish; total sitelink count of 5.  
- **Image**: A representative picture of a DVD±R disc is hosted on Wikimedia Commons at the URL provided above.  

### Variants  
- **Dual‑layer (DL)** versions exist for both DVD+R and DVD‑R, denoted as DVD+R DL and DVD‑R DL, offering higher capacity while retaining the same write‑once characteristics.  

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*All information presented is drawn directly from the supplied source material.*

## References

1. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013