After ripping a DVD to an ISO image there is an extra MDS file

[sawdustmaker]

I've been using ImgBurn to rip my DVD's onto my hard drive. After it finishes, there is a small MDS file that exists along with the ISO image. My question is: what is this file for? and, is it necessary or can I delete it.

[Adub]

You can delete it if you want. What it is is essentially a small file containing layer break information and things like that. If you don't plan on burning the ISO's right away to a blank disk then you can delete it.

[setarip_old]

@sawdustermaker

As the author ("LIGHTNING UK!) has stated many times, if you want to use IMGBurn to burn such an .ISO, select the ".MDS" file rather than the actual .ISO image file. This will ensure proper burning based on the information contained in the ".MDS" file.