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# Data reference atom

An atom that contains the information necessary to locate a movie, stream or file.

## Overview

The information to locate a movie, stream, or file is typically in the form of a URL or a file alias. Only one data reference atom is allowed in a given movie reference descriptor atom.

## Topics

### Data fields

[`Size`](/documentation/quicktime-file-format/Reference_movie_data_reference_atom/Size)

The number of bytes in this data reference atom.

[`Type`](/documentation/quicktime-file-format/Reference_movie_data_reference_atom/Type)

The type of this atom.

[`Flags`](/documentation/quicktime-file-format/Reference_movie_data_reference_atom/Flags)

A 32-bit integer containing flags.

[`Data reference type`](/documentation/quicktime-file-format/Reference_movie_data_reference_atom/Data_reference_type)

The data reference type.

[`Data reference size`](/documentation/quicktime-file-format/Reference_movie_data_reference_atom/Data_reference_size)

The size of the data reference in bytes, expressed as a 32-bit integer.

[`Data reference`](/documentation/quicktime-file-format/Reference_movie_data_reference_atom/Data_reference)

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


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