This International Standard specifies the characteristics of 356 mm optical disk cartridges of the type providing for information to be written once and read many times. ISO 10885 specifies — definitions of essential concepts, — the environment in which the characteristics shall be tested, — the environments in which the cartridge shall be operated and stored, — the mechanical, physical and dimensional characteristics of the case and of the optical disk, — the optical characteristics and the recording characteristics for recording the information once and for reading it many times, so as to provide physical interchangeability between data processing systems. — the format for the physical disposition of the tracks and sectors, the error correction codes, the modulation methods used for recording and the quality of the recorded signals. Together with a standard for volume and file structure, ISO/IEC 10885 provides for full data interchange between data processing systems.