| Format | Capacity (GB) | WORM | Date | Lifespan |
| CD-R | 0.65 - 0.7 | yes | 1994 | years, decades, centuries |
| CDRW | 0.5 - 0.7 | no | ~1996 | less than 1 year? |
| DVD-RAM | 2.58, 5.16, 4.7, 9.4 | no | 1998 | minimum 30 years |
| DVD+R | 4.7 - 8.5 | yes | 2002 | 30-100 years |
| DVD+RW | 4.7 | no | 1997/2001 | 30-100 years |
| DVD-R | 4.7 - 8.5 | yes | 1997 | 30-100 years |
| DVD-RW | 4.7 | no | 1997? | 30-100 years |
| Sony paperdisc | 25 | yes | TBA | TBA |
| FMD-ROM | 140 | yes | when pigs fly | |
| BD-RE (Blu-ray rewriteable) | 23.3, 25, 27, 46.6, 50, 54 | 2003 | ?? | |
| HD-DVD | 15, 30, 45 | yes? | 2005 | ?? |
| DMD (digital multilayer disk) | 15 | yes | 2004 (probably vaporware) | ??? |