DVD region code is specifically meant to control which DVD movies play in which countries or groups of countries. For instance, region 1 has its own DVD player that will play only region 1 DVDs. And so on. Technically, the code is a type of digital encryption placed on the disk by the manufacturer. Regional coding is a sort of protection, adopted by movie studios to hinder unauthorized duplication of their copyrighted material and to control the worldwide release dates. Meanwhile, region free DVD players appeared.

There is a rule which stands that a DVD movie is first released in United States. Six months later, in Australia and Japan and 12 months after, the DVD movie is released in Europe.

• Code 1 corresponds to the USA and its territories, Canada also;
• Code 2 corresponds to Europe, Japan, South Africa. It is divided into four sub-codes (D1 - UK only, D2-D3 - only for European DVDs not sold in United Kingdom and Ireland, D4 - throughout Europe);
• Code 3 corresponds to Southeast Asia;
• Code 4 goes for Latin America, New Zealand, Australia;
• Code 5 goes for Russia, the rest of Asia and Africa, while
• Code 5 goes for China
• Codes 6-7 are intended for future options and there is another one,
• Code zero: no DVDs are coded this way, but some DVD players might be.

When purchasing a portable DVD player it is advisable to verify whether it is code free or not. Large electronics stores do not usually have code free DVD players for sale. Can a DVD player be modified into a code free? It is argued that it can be done, but only by a professional. Otherwise, the DVD player may be damaged.

The two codes (of the DVD and of the player or drive) must match in order to play a movie. Well, region free can mean that a DVD device will not check for the region settings of a DVD movie, and will play any movie from any region.