Region Codes

Definition: Most movie DVDs have a region code intended to restrict the area of the world in which they can be played. Most DVD players sold in a particular area of the world will not play a DVD encoded for a different region. The US and Canada are both in the same region, so if you buy all your DVDs and your player within these two countries, you need not be concerned about region codes. On the other hand, the US and the UK are in different regions, so if you buy a player in one of these two countries and try to use it to play a DVD bought in the other, you will probably have problems. Here's a rough breakout of the regions: Region 1 — US and Canada. Region 2 — Europe, Japan, Middle East. Region 3 — Far East (except China). Region 4 — Australia, New Zealand, Latin America. Region 5 — Former USSR, Indian subcontinent. Region 6 — China. (Note: These regions are for regular DVDs. Blu-ray has its own region codes, but the idea is similar. HD DVD does not use region codes.) The foregoing notwithstanding, some DVDs do not have a region code and can be played anywhere in the world. Also, there are code-free DVD players that are supposed to be able to play a DVD from anywhere, but they may not live up to their billing in all cases.