DVD recordable and DVD rewritable refer to DVD optical disc formats that can be recorded (written, "burned"), either write once or rewritable (write multiple times) format written by laser, as compared to DVD-ROM, which is mass-produced by pressing. DVD recordable is a general term that refers to both write-once and rewritable formats, whereas DVD rewritable refers only to rewritable formats. The official DVD logo. ... In computing, sound reproduction, and video, an optical disc is flat, circular, usually polycarbonate disc whereon data is stored. ... Lasers range in size from microscopic diode lasers (top) with numerous applications, to football field sized neodymium glass lasers (bottom) used for inertial confinement fusion, nuclear weapons research and other physics experiments. ... DVD is an optical disc storage media format that is used for playback of movies with high video and sound quality and for storing data. ...

Like CD-Rs, DVD recordables also use dyes. Depending on the intensity of the laser, the reflective property of the dye on a particular spot will determine whether it is a peak or a valley representation from pressed DVD. Also because of the dyes, it gives the disc those distinct colors at the shiny side. Dyes are also the reason playback is not guaranteed. Their reflective properties are not as good as with stamped DVD's that commonly has aluminum as the reflective layer.

Recordable DVDs are divided into three incompatible camps:

DVD "dash" (-) 

First DVD recordable format released in the market. Developed by Pioneer and backed by their DVD Forum. Has broader playback compatibility than the the "+" especially with much older players, but others find it less reliable when it comes to durability. The dash format is based on an older CD-R/RW format for easy upgrade or migration for disc manufacturers.

DVD "plus" (+) 

Developed by Philips and Sony with their DVD+RW Alliance. Came out after the "-" format.

DVD-RAM 

As RAM stands for Random Access Memory, it works more or less like a hard-drive and was designed for corporate back-up use. Can only be read in drives that are DVD-RAM compatible. DVD Forum backs this format.

Multi-format drives can read (write) more than one format; e.g., DVD±RW (DVD plus-minus rewritable) is used to refer to drives that can write/rewrite both plus and minus formats, but not necessarily DVD-RAM. You can recognize a DVD-RAM immediately because visually there are lots of little rectangles distributed on the surface of the data carrier. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with DVD. (Discuss) DVD±R is not a separate DVD format. ...

DVD write-once formats

• DVD-R
• DVD+R

A DVD+R disc The title given to this article is incorrect due to technical limitations. ... A DVD+R disc A DVD+R is a writable optical disc with 4. ...

DVD rewritable formats

• DVD-RW
• DVD+RW
• DVD-RAM