DVD stands for Digital Versatile Disc (or Digital Video Disc), a flat, circular disc that stores movies, TV shows, computer programs, or other digital information. DVDs look similar to CDs but hold much more data: enough to store a full-length movie with good picture and sound quality.

DVDs became popular in the late 1990s and were a major way people watched movies at home for many years. Before DVDs, many people watched movies at home using bulky VHS tapes that wore out over time and had to be rewound. DVDs were revolutionary because you could jump instantly to any scene, they never needed rewinding, and the picture quality stayed the same no matter how many times you watched. Many DVDs also included bonus features like deleted scenes, behind-the-scenes documentaries, and commentary tracks where directors explained how they made the film.

To watch a DVD, you need a DVD player that spins the disc and uses a laser to read the microscopic patterns encoded on its surface. The player then converts those patterns into video and audio signals that your TV can display.

While streaming services have largely replaced DVDs for many people, DVDs remain useful: they don't require an internet connection, you own a physical copy of the movie, and they often include special features that streaming services don't offer.