In computing, CD authoring or DVD authoring is the process of CD recorder source material—video, audio or other data—onto a compact disc or DVD in a particular format.

Authoring is commonly done in software on personal computers and workstations equipped with CD recorder. There are, however, stand-alone devices like personal video recorders which can also author and record discs.

Authoring programs are sometimes called burning applications or burner applications , although it is possible to author DVD discs (creating menus, etc.) in one application and then actually burn these to disc using a different application.

The format that is needed depends on the purpose of the disc, be it for a DVD player, an audio CD player, software distribution or personal backup. Some of these formats are onerously complex; many modern CD and DVD authoring programs are all-in-one suites providing sophisticated graphical interfaces to guide users through the creation of such discs.

Some sort of authoring software is generally bundled with any consumer CD or DVD burning device, and installed on any new computer that contains a burner. Such packages include:

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