# What is the difference between a DVD-R and a DVD+R?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-difference-between-a-dvd-r-and-a-dvd-r/209868>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [October 27, 2003, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-difference-between-a-dvd-r-and-a-dvd-r/209868 "2003-10-27T17:42:45Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![bernse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a9a28c/32.png) [@bernse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bernse)\
**Post date:** [October 27, 2003, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-difference-between-a-dvd-r-and-a-dvd-r/209868/1 "2003-10-27T17:42:45Z")

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I’ve done a search, but so far only came up with:

> [@](#):
>
> DVD-R is a non-rewriteable format and it is compatible with about 91% of all DVD Players and most DVD-ROMs
> 
> DVD+R is a non-rewritable format and it is compatible with about 86% of all DVD Players and most DVD-ROMs.

Which, well, isn’t really helping me out at all.

The reason I am asking is that I am thinking of getting a DVD burner, and I am getting the impression that a burner that handles -R is “better” than just “+R”.

Is it? Why? Whats the difference?

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**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\
**Post date:** [October 27, 2003, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-difference-between-a-dvd-r-and-a-dvd-r/209868/2 "2003-10-27T18:01:05Z")

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It’s a format war, like VHS and Beta back in the old days, but much more confusing because the discs, players, and recorders look almost identical. 🙂

There are two main camps of disc makers. One uses the dash (-) in their names, the other uses the plus (+). There are record-once (R) and erasible (RW) disc versions in both camps, so you end up with four differnt disc types: DVD-R, DVD+R (both record-once), and DVD-RW, DVD+RW (both erasible).

(There is also a fifth type of disc, DVD-RAM, but it is rarer.)

I recommend getting a recorder that handles discs from both camps. Such are well below CAD 300 in Toronto.

But if you’re looking at _compatibility with the installed base of older players_ only, DVD-R has the edge: more older players will play DVD-R than any of the other formats.

It’s also a good idea to check the specs on any DVD players and drives you already own, to see what they can already play.