A recording and reproducing method for a record medium including the steps of reading type information from the record medium when data is recorded to or reproduced from the record medium on which the type information is recorded; reading type information from a recording and reproducing apparatus for the record medium; comparing the type information read from the record medium with the type information read from the apparatus; and performing a recording or reproducing process for the record medium using information corresponding to the type information stored in the apparatus when the type information read from the record medium matches the type information read from the apparatus.