A DVD writer is a computer peripheral that allows a user to store data on a blank DVD. DVD writers are available as external units that attach to a computer port and as internal drives that are housed within a computer's case.
The capabilities of a DVD writer vary based on the type of media used. An optical drive can only record to a DVD-R disc once, while a rewritable DVD can be recorded, erased and re-recorded. Many DVD writers are also "backwards compatible" with older optical media and are able to read and write to traditional compact discs. Computer users must use care when shopping for blank recordable media to ensure compatibility with a particular DVD writer.
