Snap Case

Snap Case is a cardboard-and-plastic combination package used in early commercial DVD releases, also called Snapper Case. A single printed cardboard sheet forms the front and back cover, with its edges fitted into a plastic frame that provides hinges, a hub, and snap closure; the front cover closes by snapping plastic tabs. Warner Home Video and related labels adopted this box type widely, making it a notable packaging feature of some North American DVDs from the late 1990s through the early 2000s.

The plastic portion forms the spine, hinges, disc hub, and snap closure, while the cardboard carries the outer graphics directly, unlike a Keep Case that inserts a separate sleeve under clear film. The inside of the cardboard can continue printing after opening; some editions add booklet clips or other inserts. The disc is still held by the plastic hub; the cardboard is not a data carrier. The design reduces all-plastic case area and allows large print on cardboard, but exposed edges are prone to whitening, delamination, creasing, and moisture damage. If the plastic frame separates from the cardboard edge, it is usually harder to replace with standard parts as with a Jewel Case; swapping to a common Keep Case also requires a differently sized sleeve.

Snap Case is not a general term for every snap-closure DVD box. A standard Keep Case also has hub and closure points but uses one-piece molded plastic front and back; Digipak usually glues a plastic tray inside folded board and does not use Snap Case edge frame. Similar packages may come from different manufacturers, and product naming is not always consistent.

Packaging form is independent of program specification. A Snap Case may hold single-sided, double-sided, or dual-layer DVDs, and a reissue may be repackaged in a Keep Case while keeping the same disc content. Confirming an edition requires matching cardboard printing, plastic frame color, disc face, and catalog information together.