Major Difference Between Compact Disk (CD) And Digital Versatile Disc (DVD)

What Is A Compact Disk (CD)?

A Compact Disc also referred to as CD are small  flat round, optical storage plastic discs which store and retrieve computer data or music using light. CDs can store software programs to install onto your computer. They save files for backup or transfer to another computer as well as hold music to play in a CD player.

Compact disc (CD) was co-developed by Philips and Sony and released in 1982. The format was originally developed to store and play only digital audio recordings (CD-DA) but was later adapted for storage of data (CD-ROM).

In 1982 the CDs replaced floppy disks because they were faster and could store more information. However, today the most common replacement for CD is DVD and Blue-ray discs. For larger storage, Jump drives are also a popular replacement to the CD.

 CDs can hold up to 700 MB worth of data which is about 80 minutes of music. CDs that have computer information on them are referred CD-ROMs or Compact Disc-Read Only Memory.  The diameter of a normal CD is 120 mm. the middle hole in a CD is about 1.5 cm.

What You Need To Know About CD

• CDs are commonly used for audio and program files.
• The capacity of a regular CD is only 640-700 MB.
• In CD the recording or metal layer is located on the top of the disk.
• A CD contains the spacing of 1.6 micrometers between spiral tracks and 0.834 micrometers between the pits on the disk.
• The laser wavelength for reading and burning a CD is 780 nanometer.
• The error correcting codes used in CD are CIRC and EFMP.
• Channel Bit length in CD is 300 nanometer.
• CDs have a single layer of pits.
• CD thickness is 1.2 mm.
• Removal of adhesive labels in CD can result to damage in the metal layer.
• In CD, the data transfer rate is 1.4 MB to 1.6 MB/sec.
• A CD has 0.834 micrometer space between the pits.
• Numeric Aperture of CD is 0.45.
• CD players can only play CDs.
• The available formats of CDs are: CD-Text, CD+Graphics, CD-ROMs, Video CDs, Super Video CDs, Photo CDs etc.
• CDs are usually cheaper than DVDs.

What Is DVD (Digital Versatile Disc)?

Digital versatile disc or digital video disc is a type of optical storage media similar to a compact disc, but with enhanced data storage capacities as well as with higher quality of video and audio formats. It was co-developed by Sony, Panasonic, Philips and Toshiba in 1995. Some DVDs are formatted specifically for video playback while others may contain different types of data such as software programs and computer files.

DVD has a storage capacity of 4.7 gigabyte storage on a single-sided, one-layered disk, which is enough for a 133-minute movie. DVDs can be single or double-sided and can have two layers on each side. A double-sided, two-layered DVD will hold up to 17 gigabytes of video, audio or other information.

Digital versatile discs can be categorized in different ways based on their applications. If they are used for reading only and cannot be written, then they are classified as DVD-ROM. If the DVDs can be used to record any type of data, then they are called DVD-R. If the disc can be read, written and then erased and rewritten, it is referred to as DVD-RW.

Other DVD Formats Include:

• DVD-Video which is the format designed for full-length movies that work with your television set.
• DVD-Audio which a CD replacement format.
• DVD-RAM which is the writeable version.
• DVD-ROM is the type of drive and disc for use on computers. The DVD drive will usually also play regular CD-ROM discs and DVD-Video disks.

What You Need To Know About DVD

• DVDs are used for video and program.
• The capacity for storing data is from 4-7 GB to 17.08 GB of digital data.
• The recording or metal layer is located in the middle of the disk.
• The spiral loops in DVD are 0.74 micrometers apart and the distance between the pits is 0.4 micrometers.
• The laser wavelength for reading and burning a DVD is 650 nanometers.
• DVD uses distinct error correction techniques which involve RS-PC and EFMPlus.
• Channel bit length in CD is 113 nanometers.
• DVD has double layers of pits.
• DVD thickness is 0.6 mm.
• Removal of adhesive labels in DVD results causes imbalance in the spin.
• The data transfer rate in DVD is 11 MB/sec.
• A DVD has 0.4 micrometer space between the pits.
• Numeric Aperture of DVD is 0.6.
• DVD players can play both DVDs and CDs.
• The available formats of DVDs are DVD-ROM, DVD-Video, DVD-Audio, DVD-Games etc.
• DVDs are more expensive when compared to CDs.

Also Read: Difference Between Optical Disk And Magnetic Disk

Difference Between CD And DVD In Tabular Form