---
title: Media atoms
framework: quicktime-file-format
role: collectionGroup
role_heading: API Collection
path: quicktime-file-format/media_atoms
---

# Media atoms

Atoms that describe and define a track’s media type and sample data.

## Overview

Overview The media atom contains information that specifies: The media type, such as sound, video or timed metadata The media handler component used to interpret the sample data The media timescale and track duration Media-and-track-specific information, such as sound volume or graphics mode The media data references, which typically specify the file where the sample data is stored The sample table atoms, which, for each media sample, specify the sample description, duration, and byte offset from the data reference

## Topics

### Describing media

- [Media atom ('mdia')](quicktime-file-format/media_atom.md)
- [Media header atom ('mdhd')](quicktime-file-format/media_header_atom.md)
- [Extended language tag atom ('elng')](quicktime-file-format/extended_language_tag_atom.md)
- [Handler reference atom ('hdlr')](quicktime-file-format/handler_reference_atom.md)
- [Media information atoms](quicktime-file-format/media_information_atoms.md)
- [Video media information atom ('minf')](quicktime-file-format/video_media_information_atom.md)
- [Video media information header atom ('vmhd')](quicktime-file-format/video_media_information_header_atom.md)
- [Sound media information atom ('minf')](quicktime-file-format/sound_media_information_atom.md)
- [Sound media information header atom ('smhd')](quicktime-file-format/sound_media_information_header_atom.md)
- [Base media information atom ('minf')](quicktime-file-format/base_media_information_atom.md)
- [Base media information header atom ('gmhd')](quicktime-file-format/base_media_information_header_atom.md)
- [Base media info atom ('gmin')](quicktime-file-format/base_media_info_atom.md)
- [Data information atom ('dinf')](quicktime-file-format/data_information_atom.md)
- [Data reference atom](quicktime-file-format/media_data_reference_atom.md)

## See Also

### Movies

- [Movie atoms](quicktime-file-format/movie_atoms.md)
- [Track atoms](quicktime-file-format/track_atoms.md)
- [Sample atoms](quicktime-file-format/sample_atoms.md)
- [Structuring movie data and features](quicktime-file-format/structuring_movie_data_and_features.md)