DVD Region Coding specifies in which countries or regions a DVD will play.  Movie studios lobby for this regional coding as a way to control its distribution channels.  A DVD coded for the US (Region: 1), will not playback via a DVD player in Germany.  The regional coding system is entirely optional, so some DVDs playback in any country.

Before purchasing a DVD online, it's important to make sure you are receiving an item that will playback given your location.  The region codes are provided below:

Region Codes

Region 0: no coding, will play in any country

Region 1: United States, Canada, United States Territories

Region 2: Europe, Japan, South Africa, Middle East, Greenland

Region 3: Southeast Asia, East Asia (including Hong Kong)

Region 4: Mexico, Central America, South America, Caribbean, Australia, New Zealand, Pacific Islands

Region 5: Soviet Union, Eastern Europe, India, most of Africa, Mongolia, North Korea

Region 6: China

Where is the region code listed?

Typically, the region code is specified on the back of the DVD package.  Some movie studios offer a logo with the region code superimposed on it while others simple state that the DVD will play in a particular region.  If noted as playing 'worldwide', the coding would be region 0.