A CD-R is essentially a compact disc that can be recorded only once. A CD-R cannot be over written or erased. Taiyo Yuden was the pioneer of the first original gold/green CD-R. Organic dyes are the essential building block of CD-R media, and provide a reflective layer. Commonly used dyes are cyanine, phthalocyanine, metalized azo and formazan.

While selecting a CD-R it is advisable to study a few factors. It is of paramount importance that the CD-R media is compatible with personal playback systems and CD readers. A number of music systems are known to have rejected just about every variety of CD-R media. These include most DVD players and numerous car CD players.

Prospective buyers must acquire information on the durability of the media. If the dye or media begins to wear off, the life of the CD-R is jeopardized. Prospective buyers may also want to understand block error rates for the media. Experts often suggest that before placing an order for CD-R media, people should check samples to determine compatibility. This is even more important if the CD-R media is to be purchased for the purpose of recording.

Certain companies offer no-risk and guaranteed CD-R media. It is a comparatively inexpensive medium to store or record data and music. Despite this, a number of incidents have been reported wherein people have purchased CD-R media in large quantities that were not usable. This can be frustrating, especially if a refund is not available.

It is not always possible to determine the parameters for a functional CD-R. However, performance of any media is at all times a combination of the disc, the drive that is used to record it and the device that has to read it. A suggestion while selecting CD-R media is to choose the type that maybe certified for different recorders desired writing speed. It is also important to study the stability and thickness of the dye and reflective layer, to ensure quality and longevity of the CD-R media.