---
title: "Free space atom ('free')"
framework: QuickTime File Format
role: symbol
role_heading: Atom
path: quicktime-file-format/free_space_atom
---

# Free space atom ('free')

An atom that designates unused space in the movie data file.

## Overview

Overview Both free and skip atoms designate unused space in the movie data file. These atoms consist of only an atom header (size and type fields), followed by the appropriate number of bytes of free space. When reading a QuickTime movie, your application may safely skip these atoms. When writing or updating a movie, you may reuse the space associated with these atom types.

## Topics

### Data fields

- [Size](quicktime-file-format/free_space_atom/size.md)
- [Type](quicktime-file-format/free_space_atom/type.md)
- [Free space](quicktime-file-format/free_space_atom/free_space.md)

## See Also

### Setting free space

- [Skip atom](quicktime-file-format/skip_atom.md)
- [Wide atom](quicktime-file-format/wide_atom.md)