text: Data recording in a 3D optical storage medium requires that a change take place in the medium upon excitation. This change is generally a photochemical reaction of some sort, although other possibilities exist. Chemical reactions that have been investigated include photoisomerizations, photodecompositions and photobleaching, and polymerization initiation. Most investigated have been photochromic compounds, which include azobenzenes, spiropyrans, stilbenes, fulgides, and diarylethenes. If the photochemical change is reversible, then rewritable data storage may be achieved, at least in principle. Also, MultiLevel Recording, where data is written in "grayscale" rather than as "on" and "off" signals, is technically feasible.