CD-R

• A CD-R is a standard blank CD. It can contain many forms of data, such as music, photo and video files. When a CD-R is burned, it becomes a CD-ROM. CD-ROM stands for Compact Disc Read Only Memory, and is what you purchase in a store. A CD-ROM cannot be recorded again or edited in any way.
  
  

CD-RW

• A CD-RW is also a blank CD, but it is made using a different process that allows it to be rewritten many times. Re-recording is not selective. All of the information on the disc must be removed before new information can be stored. The CD-RW supports the same file types as the CD-R.
  
  

Playback of CD-R and CD-RW

• Because of the differences of the two types of CD, playback in different types of machines varies. If the CD-R is burned well, it will play back in both a computer and a CD player. However, a CD-RW does not work well or at all in CD players.