CD-R
From The Glossary of Digital Photography
An abbreviation for compact disc - recordable. A variation of the CD audio disc designed to hold music, images, or data. CD-R is often referred to simply as a CD, but CD-R is the correct term. The lifespan of a CD-R can vary from a few years to hundreds of years, depending on the quality of the disc and storage conditions. The cheapest discs use cyanine dyes and are not stable, so they have a short lifespan. Longer-life discs are made from azo dyes and can last several decades. Phthalocyanine dyes are used in CD-Rs with the longest lifespans. Although the discs with the longest life are usually gold in color, color cannot be used as a guide, since manufacturers will dye their cheaper discs to make them look more like the long-life discs. See also CD
