---
title: Defining media data layouts
framework: quicktime-file-format
role: collectionGroup
path: quicktime-file-format/appendix_b_defining_media_data_layouts
---

# Defining media data layouts

Use efficient media layouts.

## Overview

Overview The QuickTime file format provides a great deal of flexibility in how media data is physically arranged within a file. However, it also allows media layouts to be created that may be inefficient for playback on a given device. To complicate the matter, a media layout that is inefficient for one device may be, in fact, very efficient for another. Review Using QuickTime files and media layouts for some common uses of QuickTime files and media layouts in these circumstances.

## Topics

### Defining data layouts

- [Using QuickTime files and media layouts](quicktime-file-format/using_quicktime_files_and_media_layouts.md)

## See Also

### Video and sound

- [Video media](quicktime-file-format/video_media.md)
- [Sound media](quicktime-file-format/sound_media.md)
- [Music media](quicktime-file-format/music_media.md)
- [MPEG-1 media](quicktime-file-format/mpeg-1_media.md)
- [Movie media](quicktime-file-format/movie_media.md)