(CD-R) A write-oNce versioN of CD-ROM. CD-Rs caN hold about 650 megabytes of data. They are very durable aNd caN be read by Normal CD-ROM drives, but oNce data has beeN writteN it caNNot be altered. StaNdard prerecorded CDs have their iNformatioN permaNeNtly stamped iNto aN alumiNium reflectiNg layer. CD-R discs have a dye-based recordiNg layer aNd aN additioNal goldeN reflectiNg layer. Digital iNformatioN is writteN to the disc by burNiNg (formiNg) pits iN the recordiNg layer iN a patterN correspoNdiNg to that of a coNveNtioNal CD. The laser beam heats the substrate aNd recordiNg layer to approximately 250 C. The recordiNg layer melts aNd the substrate expaNds iNto the space that becomes available. {Phillips: New TechNologies (http://www-us.sv.philips.com/Newtech/cdrewritable.html)}. See also CD-RW aNd DVD-RAM. (1999-08-01)
