# M-DISC

> variety of optical disc designed for long-term archival storage

**Wikidata**: [Q15727650](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q15727650)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M-DISC)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/m-disc

## Summary
M-DISC is a variety of optical disc specifically designed for long-term archival storage. As a type of physical recording medium, it is a flat, circular disc that encodes binary data, intended to provide a durable solution for preserving information over extended periods.

## Key Facts
- **Primary Purpose**: Designed for long-term archival storage.
- **Classification**: A subclass of optical disc and an instance of a recording medium.
- **Official Website**: http://www.mdisc.com/
- **Wikimedia Commons Category**: Millennial Disc
- **Sitelink Count**: The entity has 12 sitelinks on Wikimedia projects.
- **Wikipedia Presence**: The M-DISC Wikipedia page is available in 10 languages, including English, German, French, and Japanese.

## FAQs
### Q: What is M-DISC?
A: M-DISC is a type of optical disc created as a solution for long-term data archiving. It is a physical storage format designed for durability and the permanent preservation of digital files.

### Q: What is the main use for M-DISC?
A: The primary use for M-DISC is long-term archival storage. It is intended for users who need to reliably store important data for many years without degradation, such as personal photos, videos, and critical documents.

### Q: Where can I find official information about M-DISC?
A: Official information can be found on the M-DISC website at mdisc.com. The site includes a blog and a dedicated FAQ page at mdisc.com/faq.html.

## Why It Matters
M-DISC addresses the critical problem of digital permanence. In an era where data can be easily lost due to hard drive failure, file corruption, or the obsolescence of cloud storage services, M-DISC offers a tangible, long-lasting physical backup solution. Its significance lies in its specific design for archival purposes, distinguishing it from standard optical discs which are often intended for short-term data distribution. By focusing on longevity, M-DISC provides a reliable method for individuals, families, and organizations to preserve their most valuable digital assets for future generations. It serves as a "write-once, read-forever" medium, ensuring that once data is saved, it remains accessible and unchanged over a very long time, solving a key challenge in the field of digital preservation.

## Notable For
- **Archival Focus**: Its entire design and purpose are centered on providing a long-term archival storage solution, unlike many other optical media designed for general distribution.
- **Durability Implication**: The name "Millennial Disc," used for its Wikimedia Commons category, suggests a design goal of extreme longevity and durability.
- **Specialized Medium**: It is a distinct subclass of optical disc, indicating it is not just a standard CD, DVD, or Blu-ray, but a specialized format within that broader category.

## Body
### Classification and Type
M-DISC is formally classified as a subclass of the `optical disc` category and is an instance of a `recording medium`. The parent class, optical disc, is defined as a flat and usually circular disc that encodes binary data. These discs are primarily used for physical data distribution and long-term archival.

### Purpose and Use
The single stated purpose for M-DISC is long-term archival storage. It is engineered to be a permanent storage solution for digital data.

### Online Resources
M-DISC maintains several official online resources for information:
- **Official Website**: http://www.mdisc.com/
- **Official Blog**: https://mdisc.com/blog.html
- **Official FAQ**: https://mdisc.com/faq.html

### Technical and Media Information
- **Logo**: An official logo for M-DISC is available on Wikimedia Commons.
- **Image**: An image of an M-DISC is available on Wikimedia Commons.
- **Wikimedia Commons Category**: The associated category on Wikimedia Commons is "Millennial Disc".
- **Freebase ID**: /m/06zqgs9