In what direction is data written onto a DVD?

Question

On a DVD, is a film written first on the outside tracks on the inside tracks?

Answer 1

Every CD/DVD is being written on from the inside tracks of the disc. It is written to the disc from inside to outside. It also reads this way, cause the TOC (Table of Content) is located in the center of the disc (not the hole).

Answer 2

Discs do indeed contain a table of contents (TOC) which contains details of the tracks and their start points. The TOC is written in the lead in of each disc session (and discs can have multiple sessions) and the lead in is written when the session is closed, so strictly speaking the data is written first (outwards) and then at the end the TOC is written.

For full details for CDs please see http://www.pctechguide.com/33CDR-RW_Formats.htm

For DVDs things are similar but you can find further specifics on DVDs at http://www.pctechguide.com/34DVD.htm

Answer 3

My guess is that movie data begins from the inside of the disc outwards.
When I write data onto a DVD and not fill it up completely I notice the colour difference on the disc.