---
title: "Name atom ('name')"
framework: quicktime-file-format
role: symbol
role_heading: Atom
path: quicktime-file-format/name_atom
---

# Name atom ('name')

An atom you use to provide a name for a metadata item.

## Overview

Overview The Name atom is a full atom with an atom type of ‘name’. This atom contains a metadata name formatted as a string of UTF-8 characters, to fill the atom. It is optional. If it is not present, the item is unnamed, and cannot be referred to by name. Names are not user visible; they provide a way to refer to metadata items. The maximum length of a name may be limited in specific environments. No two metadata items may have the same name.

## Topics

### Data fields

- [Version](quicktime-file-format/name_atom/version.md)
- [Flags](quicktime-file-format/name_atom/flags.md)
- [Name](quicktime-file-format/name_atom/name.md)

## See Also

### Atoms

- [Country list atom ('ctry')](quicktime-file-format/country_list_atom.md)
- [Language list atom ('lang')](quicktime-file-format/language_list_atom.md)
- [Metadata item keys atom ('keys')](quicktime-file-format/metadata_item_keys_atom.md)
- [Metadata item list atom ('ilst')](quicktime-file-format/metadata_item_list_atom.md)
- [Metadata item atom](quicktime-file-format/metadata_item_atom.md)
- [Value atom](quicktime-file-format/value_atom.md)
- [Item information atom ('itif')](quicktime-file-format/item_information_atom.md)
- [Data atom ('data')](quicktime-file-format/data_atom.md)