---
title: "Media header atom ('mdhd')"
framework: quicktime-file-format
role: symbol
role_heading: Atom
path: quicktime-file-format/media_header_atom
---

# Media header atom ('mdhd')

An atom that specifies the characteristics of a media, including time scale and duration.

## Overview

Overview The media header atom specifies the characteristics of a media, including time scale and duration. The media header atom has an atom type of 'mdhd'. The layout of a media header atom is as follows.  |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |

## Topics

### Data fields

- [Size](quicktime-file-format/media_header_atom/size.md)
- [Type](quicktime-file-format/media_header_atom/type.md)
- [Version](quicktime-file-format/media_header_atom/version.md)
- [Flags](quicktime-file-format/media_header_atom/flags.md)
- [Creation time](quicktime-file-format/media_header_atom/creation_time.md)
- [Modification time](quicktime-file-format/media_header_atom/modification_time.md)
- [Time scale](quicktime-file-format/media_header_atom/time_scale.md)
- [Duration](quicktime-file-format/media_header_atom/duration.md)
- [Language](quicktime-file-format/media_header_atom/language.md)
- [Quality](quicktime-file-format/media_header_atom/quality.md)

## See Also

### Describing media

- [Media atom ('mdia')](quicktime-file-format/media_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)