---
title: Data reference
framework: quicktime-file-format
role: symbol
role_heading: Data field
path: quicktime-file-format/reference_movie_data_reference_atom/data_reference
---

# Data reference

A data reference to a QuickTime movie, or to a stream or file that QuickTime can play.

## Overview

Overview If the reference type is 'alis' this field contains the contents of an AliasHandle. If the reference type is 'url ' this field contains a NULL-terminated string that can be interpreted as a URL. The URL can be absolute or relative, and can specify any protocol that QuickTime supports, including http://, ftp://, rtsp://, file:///, and data:.

## See Also

### Data fields

- [Size](quicktime-file-format/reference_movie_data_reference_atom/size.md)
- [Type](quicktime-file-format/reference_movie_data_reference_atom/type.md)
- [Flags](quicktime-file-format/reference_movie_data_reference_atom/flags.md)
- [Data reference type](quicktime-file-format/reference_movie_data_reference_atom/data_reference_type.md)
- [Data reference size](quicktime-file-format/reference_movie_data_reference_atom/data_reference_size.md)