Yellow Book ( Mode 1, Mode 2 )

Yellow Book is the standard that defines the format of CD-ROMs, Yellow Book was the first extension of the Red Book. Yellow Book allowed CDs to contain 650MB of computer data instead of only digital audio data. The Yellow Book standard is currently defined by two data subsets.

Mode 1
Mode 2
The Yellow Book standard defines two data types. Mode 1 describes CD-ROM data with Logical Error Correction Code (LECC), which provides room for 2,048 bytes of user data and is the mode used to store data that is unforgiving of error, like computer programs or databases. Mode 2 describes sector data stored without LECC, which provides increased room for 2,336 bytes of user data. This mode is typically used for data that is more tolerant of error, like audio, video, or graphics.

Most CD-ROM discs that contain computer programs or data archives are written using Yellow Book, Mode 1, ISO 9660 Level 1, for the DOS or Windows platform. Though these discs can also be accessed on Macintosh and UNIX platforms, they will not behave like Apple or UNIX natives volumes. Yellow Book, Mode 1, ISO 9660 Level 1 is the most widely utilized standard since it will allow virtually all PC's to access it's data. Mode 2 will permit the "combining" of Mode1 and Mode2 data on a single disc. Mode 2 is primarily the entertainment portion of the Yellow Book standard. CD-ROM/XA, Bridge discs (including Photo CD, Karaoke CD, and Video CD), and Green Book, or CD-i, fall under the Mode2 standard of Yellow Book. Mode2 discs are intended to be play on dedicated consumer electronics platforms.