Question about DVRs

[sg_lab2]

I don't have a DVR and I've never used one so I know nothing about them. My question is do they record onto DVDs or is there a device that does? I know there are devices that take a VHS tape and records the contents of the tape onto a DVD, but I didn't know if there was a device that records from the TV directly onto a DVD like a VCR onto VHS tapes.

I was wondering if there was any point in replacing my old VCR with something else when I record things for my mom and a friend of hers. Or if I should just get another VCR.