Using a DVD to back up data

I HAVE A LOT OF DOCUMENTS SAVED – – A LOT – – AND IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT A DVD HOLDS A LOT MORE DATA THAN A REGULAR CD-R OR CD-RW. SO I BOUGHT SIX DVDs TO BACK UP MY DOCUMENTS AND OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION I WOULD NOT WANT TO LOSE SHOULD I HAVE A MELT DOWN OF MY COMPUTER. IS IT COMMON TO USE DVDs TO BACK UP DATA, AND DO YOU BACK UP FILES THE SAME WAY AS IF YOU WERE USING A CD? I’M NOT REAL SURE HOW TO BACK UP A LOT OF FILES AS I’VE NEVER DONE IT BEFORE BUT SHOULD HAVE.