The most important features of DVD are as follows:

• Over 2 hours of high-quality digital video (A double-sided, dual-layer disc can hold about 8 hours of high-quality video, or 30 hours of VHSquality video.)
• Support for widescreen movies on standard or widescreen TVs (4:3 and 16:9 aspect ratios)
• Up to eight tracks of digital audio (for multiple languages, commentaries, and so on) that each have as many as eight channels
• Up to 32 subtitle/karaoke tracks
• Automatic, seamless video branching (for multiple story lines or ratings on one disc)
• Up to nine camera angles (different viewpoints can be selected during playback)
• Onscreen menus and simple interactive features (for games, quizzes, and so on)
• Multilingual identifying text for title name, album name, song name, cast, crew, and so on
• Instant rewind and fast forward (no “be kind, rewind” stickers on rental discs)
• Instant search to title, chapter, music track, and timecode
• Durable (no wear from playing, only from physical damage)
• Not susceptible to magnetic fields, resistant to heat
• Compact size (discs are easy to handle, store, and ship, and players can be portable; replication is cheaper than tapes or laserdiscs.)
• Noncomedogenic

NOTE: Most discs do not contain all features (multiple audio/ subtitle tracks, seamless branching, and parental control) because each feature must be specially authored. Some discs may not allow searching or skipping.

Most players support a standard set of features:

• Language choice (for the automatic selection of video scenes, audio tracks, subtitle tracks, and menus)
• Special effects playback: freeze, step, slow, fast, and scan
• Parental lock (for denying playback of an entire disc or particular scenes of objectionable material)
• Programmability (playing selected sections in a desired sequence)
• Random play and repeat play
• Digital audio output PCM stereo and Dolby Digital
• Recognition and output of Digital Theater Systems (DTS) Digital Surround audio tracks
• Playback of audio CDs

Some players include additional features:

• Component video output (YUV or RGB) for a higher-quality picture
• Progressive-scan component output (YUV or RGB) for highest-quality analog picture
• Digital video output (SDI, 1394, or DVI] for perfect digital picture
• Six-channel analog output from internal audio decoder
• Playback of Video CDs or Super Video CDs, MP3 CDs, Picture CDs and Photo CDs, laserdiscs, and CDVs
• Reverse single-frame stepping
• Reverse play (normal speed)
• RF output (for TVs with no direct video input)
• Multilingual onscreen display
• Multiple-disc capacity
• Digital zoom (2x or 4x enlargement of a section of the picture. This is a player feature, not a DVD disc feature.)