Video CD facts for kids

A Video CD, often called a VCD, is a special type of CD. Instead of holding music or computer programs, a VCD stores a whole movie! Think of it as an older, smaller cousin to the DVD.

DVDs can hold much more information than VCDs. This means DVDs usually have better picture quality. However, VCDs were much cheaper to make. The picture quality of a VCD was similar to an old analog television or a VHS tape.

A Look Back: VCD History

VCDs were created by Philips and Sony. These are the same companies that invented the regular CD. VCDs never became very popular in Western countries. People there mostly switched from VHS tapes straight to DVDs.

However, VCDs became very popular in Asia and other developing countries. This was because VCD players were much cheaper than DVD players.

How VCDs Work

Movies on a VCD are stored using a popular format called MPEG. This format is often used for videos downloaded from the internet. When you put a VCD into a computer, you will see many files. One of these files will have ".DAT" at the end of its name.

This ".DAT" file is actually the movie! Even though it ends with ".DAT", it's really just an MPEG movie. You can play it using programs like Windows Media Player. You don't need any special software. Many computer programs can play VCDs easily.

Images for kids

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  “Copy Protected” logo on a VCD package produced in Hong Kong.

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  As of 2014, VCDs and DVDs are the norm for home media in the Philippines. Blu-ray discs are also available but are only displayed at small separate shelves at the counter.

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  Films released on VCD can come on as many as 3 discs, depending on the length of the film. Cases of VCDs are shaped like those of audio CDs. DVD and Blu-ray cases, however, favor height over width.

See also

In Spanish: Video CD para niños