Boxes (Atoms)

This sub-section documents the structural atom or box types for the file formats. All files in this family are structured as a series of boxes (also known as atoms). Each box has a size and a four-character-code type. Boxes may contain other boxes.

User-data types are in a separate table below.

ISO family codes

See below for additional QuickTime codes.

code
description
specification
2dqr
2D region quality ranking
OMAF
2dss
spatial relationship 2D source
OMAF
ainf
Asset information to identify, license and play
DECE
assp
alternative startup sequence properties
ISO
auxi
Auxiliary track type information
HEIF
avcn
AVC NAL Unit Storage Box
DECE
bidx
Box Index
ISO-Partial
bloc
Base location and purchase location for license acquisition
DECE
bmdm
Buffer Model Description
JPXS
bpcc
Bits per component
JPEG2000
brob
Brotli-compressed box
JPEG XL
buff
Buffering information
NALu Video
bxml
binary XML container
ISO
ccid
OMA DRM Content ID
OMA DRM 2.1
ccst
Coding constraints box
HEIF
cdef
type and ordering of the components within the codestream
JPEG2000
cinf
complete track information
ISO
clip
Reserved
ISO
cmap
mapping between a palette and codestream components
JPEG2000
co64
64-bit chunk offset
ISO
coif
composition information
OMAF
coin
Content Information Box
DECE
colr
specifies the colourspace of the image
JPEG2000
covi
coverage information
OMAF
crgn
Reserved
ISO
crhd
reserved for ClockReferenceStream header
MP4v1
csgp
compact sample to group
ISO
cslg
composition to decode timeline mapping
ISO
cstb
corrected wall clock start time
ONVIF
ctab
Reserved
ISO
ctts
(composition) time to sample
ISO
cvru
OMA DRM Cover URI
OMA DRM 2.1
dihd
Data Integrity Hash
ISO-Partial
dinf
data information box, container
ISO
dint
Data Integrity
ISO-Partial
dmon
Mastering Display Metadata
JPXS
dref
data reference box, declares source(s) of media data in track
ISO
dsgd
DVB Sample Group Description Box
DVB
dstg
DVB Sample to Group Box
DVB
edts
edit list container
ISO
elst
an edit list
ISO
emsg
event message
DASH
evti
Event information
ATSC 3.0 A337
etyp
extended type and type combination
ISO
Exif
Exif Metadata
JPXS
fdel
File delivery information (item info extension)
ISO
feci
FEC Informatiom
ISO
fecr
FEC Reservoir
ISO
fidx
Box File Index
ISO-Partial
fiin
FD Item Information
ISO
fire
File Reservoir
ISO
fovd
fisheye omnidirectional video
OMAF
fovi
fisheye video essential info
OMAF
fpar
File Partition
ISO
free
free space
ISO
frma
original format box
ISO
frpa
Front Part
ISO-Partial
ftyp
file type and compatibility
ISO
fvsi
fisheye video supplemental info
OMAF
gitn
Group ID to name
ISO
grpi
OMA DRM Group ID
OMA DRM 2.0
grpl
Groups list box
ISO
hdlr
handler, declares the media (handler) type
ISO
hmhd
hint media header, overall information (hint track only)
ISO
hpix
Hipix Rich Picture (user-data or meta-data)
Hipix
icnu
OMA DRM Icon URI
OMA DRM 2.0
ID32
ID3 version 2 container
id3v2
idat
Item data
ISO
ihdr
Image Header
JPEG2000
iinf
item information
ISO
iloc
item location
ISO
imap
Reserved
ISO
imda
Identified media data
ISO
imif
IPMP Information box
ISO
infe
Item information entry
ISO
infu
OMA DRM Info URL
OMA DRM 2.0
iods
Object Descriptor container box
MP4v1
ipco
ItemPropertyContainerBox
ISO
iphd
reserved for IPMP Stream header
MP4v1
ipma
ItemPropertyAssociation
ISO
ipmc
IPMP Control Box
ISO
ipro
item protection
ISO
iprp
Item Properties Box
ISO
iref
Item reference
ISO
j2kH
JPEG 2000 header info
J2KHEIF
j2kP
JPEG 2000 prefix
J2KHEIF
jbrd
JPEG bitstream reconstruction data
JPEG XL
jP$20$20
JPEG 2000 Signature
JPEG2000
jp2c
JPEG 2000 contiguous codestream
JPEG2000
jp2h
Header
JPEG2000
jp2i
intellectual property information
JPEG2000
jumb
JPEG Universal Metadata Box Format (JUMBF)
JPEG Systems
JXL$20
JPEG XL Signature
JPEG XL
jxll
JPEG XL Level
JPEG XL
jxlc
JPEG XL Codestream
JPEG XL
jxli
JPEG XL Frame Index
JPEG XL
jxlp
JPEG XL Partial Codestream
JPEG XL
jpvi
JPEG XS Video Information
JPXS
jpvs
JPEG XS Video Support
JPXS
jptp
JPEG XS Video Transport Parameter
JPXS
JXS$20
JPEG XS Signature
JPXS
jxpl
JPEG XS Profile and Level
JPXS
kmat
Reserved
ISO
leva
Leval assignment
ISO
load
Reserved
ISO
loop
Looping behavior
WhatsApp
lrcu
OMA DRM Lyrics URI
OMA DRM 2.1
m7hd
reserved for MPEG7Stream header
MP4v1
matt
Reserved
ISO
md5i
MD5IntegrityBox
HEIF
mdat
media data container
ISO
mdhd
media header, overall information about the media
ISO
mdia
container for the media information in a track
ISO
mdri
Mutable DRM information
OMA DRM 2.0
meco
additional metadata container
ISO
mehd
movie extends header box
ISO
meof
media offset
OMAF
mere
metabox relation
ISO
mesh
mesh box
OMAF
meta
Metadata container
ISO
mfhd
movie fragment header
ISO
mfra
Movie fragment random access
ISO
mfro
Movie fragment random access offset
ISO
minf
media information container
ISO
mjhd
reserved for MPEG-J Stream header
MP4v1
mmvi
multimap video
V3C-SYS
moof
movie fragment
ISO
moov
container for all the meta-data
ISO
movd
mesh omnidirectional video
OMAF
mstv
MVC sub track view box
NALu Video
mvcg
Multiview group
NALu Video
mvci
Multiview Information
NALu Video
3dpr
MVDDepthResolutionBox
NALu Video
mvex
movie extends box
ISO
mvhd
movie header, overall declarations
ISO
mvra
Multiview Relation Attribute
NALu Video
nmhd
Null media header, overall information (some tracks only)
ISO
ochd
reserved for ObjectContentInfoStream header
MP4v1
odaf
OMA DRM Access Unit Format
OMA DRM 2.0
odda
OMA DRM Content Object
OMA DRM 2.0
odhd
reserved for ObjectDescriptorStream header
MP4v1
odhe
OMA DRM Discrete Media Headers
OMA DRM 2.0
odrb
OMA DRM Rights Object
OMA DRM 2.0
odrm
OMA DRM Container
OMA DRM 2.0
odtt
OMA DRM Transaction Tracking
OMA DRM 2.0
ohdr
OMA DRM Common headers
OMA DRM 2.0
otcf
OMAF timed text configuration
OMAF
otyp
Original file type
ISO
ovly
overlay configuration
OMAF
padb
sample padding bits
ISO
paen
Partition Entry
ISO
pclr
palette which maps a single component in index space to a multiple- component image
JPEG2000
pdat
Partial Data
ISO-Partial
pdin
Progressive download information
ISO
pfhd
Partial File Header
ISO-Partial
pfil
Partial File
ISO-Partial
pitm
primary item reference
ISO
ploc
Partial Segment Location
ISO-Partial
pnot
Reserved
ISO
povd
projected omnidirectional video
OMAF
prfr
projection format
OMAF
prft
Producer reference time
ISO
pseg
Partial Segment
ISO-Partial
pshd
Partial Segment Header
ISO-Partial
pssh
Protection system specific header
ISO Common Encryption
ptle
Partial Top Level Entry
ISO-Partial
res$20
grid resolution
JPEG2000
resc
grid resolution at which the image was captured
JPEG2000
resd
default grid resolution at which the image should be displayed
JPEG2000
rinf
restricted scheme information box
ISO
rotn
rotation box
OMAF
rosc
sphere region configuration
OMAF
rvif
recommended viewport information
OMAF
rwpk
region-wise packing
OMAF
saio
Sample auxiliary information offsets
ISO
saiz
Sample auxiliary information sizes
ISO
sbgp
Sample to Group box
ISO
schi
scheme information box
ISO
schm
scheme type box
ISO
sdep
Sample dependency
NALu Video
sdhd
reserved for SceneDescriptionStream header
MP4v1
sdtp
Independent and Disposable Samples Box
ISO
sdvp
SD Profile Box
SDV
segr
file delivery session group
ISO
seii
SEI information box
NALu Video
senc
Sample specific encryption data
ISO Common Encryption
sgpd
Sample group definition box
ISO
sidx
Segment Index Box
ISO
sinf
protection scheme information box
ISO
skip
free space
ISO
smhd
sound media header, overall information (sound track only)
ISO
sprg
sub-picture region
OMAF
srmb
System Renewability Message
DVB
srmc
System Renewability Message container
DVB
srpp
STRP Process
ISO
srqr
sphere region quality ranking
OMAF
ssix
Sub-sample index
ISO
sstl
SVC sub track layer box
NALu Video
stbl
sample table box, container for the time/space map
ISO
stco
chunk offset, partial data-offset information
ISO
stdp
sample degradation priority
ISO
sthd
Subtitle Media Header Box
ISO
stmg
MVC sub track multiview group box
NALu Video
strd
Sub-track definition
ISO
stri
Sub-track information
ISO
stsc
sample-to-chunk, partial data-offset information
ISO
stsd
sample descriptions (codec types, initialization etc.)
ISO
stsg
Sub-track sample grouping
ISO
stsh
shadow sync sample table
ISO
stss
sync sample table (random access points)
ISO
stsz
sample sizes (framing)
ISO
stti
Sub track tier box
NALu Video
stts
(decoding) time-to-sample
ISO
styp
Segment Type Box
ISO
stz2
compact sample sizes (framing)
ISO
subs
Sub-sample information
ISO
suep
signer identity information
ONVIF
sumi
supplemental surveillance meta information
MPEG-VSAF
surl
Source URL
ISO-Partial
swtc
Multiview Group Relation
NALu Video
tenc
Track Encryption
ISO Common Encryption
tfad
Track fragment adjustment box
3GPP
tfdt
Track fragment decode time
ISO
tfhd
Track fragment header
ISO
tfma
Track fragment media adjustment box
3GPP
tfra
Track fragment radom access
ISO
tibr
Tier Bit rate
NALu Video
tiri
Tier Information
NALu Video
tkhd
Track header, overall information about the track
ISO
traf
Track fragment
ISO
trak
container for an individual track or stream
ISO
tref
track reference container
ISO
trep
track extension properties
ISO
trex
track extends defaults
ISO
trgr
Track grouping information
ISO
trik
Facilitates random access and trick play modes
DECE
trun
track fragment run
ISO
tstb
TileSubTrackGroupBox
NALu Video
ttyp
track type and compatibility
ISO
tyco
type and-combination
ISO
udta
user-data
ISO
uinf
a tool by which a vendor may provide access to additional information associated with a UUID
JPEG2000
UITS
Unique Identifier Technology Solution
Universal Music Group
ulst
a list of UUID’s
JPEG2000
url$20
a URL
JPEG2000
uuid
user-extension box
ISO
v3sc
V3C spatial region collection
V3C-SYS
vmhd
video media header, overall information (video track only)
ISO
vpbb
Volumetric media bounding box
V3C-SYS
vssn
viewing space
OMAF
vunt
V3C unit header
V3C-SYS
vvhd
volumetric visual media header
ISO
vwdi
Multiview Scene Information
NALu Video
wmpi
segment position in the watermark pattern
DASH-IF watermarking
xml$20
XML container
ISO
xml$20
a tool by which vendors can add XML formatted information
JPEG2000
!mof
Compressed movie fragment
ISO
!mov
Compressed movie
ISO
!six
Compressed segment index
ISO
!ssx
Compressed subsegment index
ISO
iroi
SVC region of interest box
NALu Video
ldep
Tier dependency box
NALu Video
rrgn
SVC rect region box
NALu Video
svdr
SVC dependency range
NALu Video
svip
Initial parameter sets box for tiers
NALu Video
svpr
Priority range
NALu Video
tran
SVC lightweight transcoding
NALu Video
vipr
View priority Box
NALu Video
sdp$20
SDP information
ISO
stvi
Stereo Video Box
ISO

User-data Codes

code
description
specification
ades
description of the content for accessibility purposes (similar to the HTML alt attribute); formatted as for the cprt user-data item
Apple
albm
Album title and track number for media
3GPP
alou
Album loudness base
ISO
angl
Name of the camera angle through which the clip was shot
Apple
auth
Author of the media
3GPP
clfn
Name of the clip file
Apple
clid
Identifier of the clip
Apple
clsf
Classification of the media
3GPP
cmid
Identifier of the camera
Apple
cmnm
Name that identifies the camera
Apple
coll
Name of the collection from which the media comes
3GPP
cprt
copyright etc.
ISO
date
Date and time, formatted according to ISO 8601, when the content was created. For clips captured by recording devices, this is typically the date and time when the clip’s recording started.
Apple
dscp
Media description
3GPP
gnre
Media genre
3GPP
hinf
hint information
ISO
hnti
Hint information
ISO
hpix
Hipix Rich Picture (user-data or meta-data)
Hipix
kind
Track kind
ISO
kywd
Media keywords
3GPP
loci
Media location information
3GPP
ludt
Track loudness container
ISO
manu
Manufacturer name of the camera
Apple
modl
Model name of the camera
Apple
orie
Orientation information
3GPP
perf
Media performer name
3GPP
prmd
Production metadata box
Youtube
reel
Name of the tape reel
Apple
rtng
Media rating
3GPP
scen
Name of the scene for which the clip was shot
Apple
shot
Name that identifies the shot
Apple
slno
Serial number of the camera
Apple
strk
Sub track information
ISO
thmb
Thumbnail image of the media
3GPP
titl
Media title
3GPP
tlou
Track loudness base
ISO
tsel
Track selection
ISO
urat
User 'star' rating of the media
3GPP
yrrc
Year when media was recorded
3GPP
swre
Name and version number of the software that generated this movie
Apple

QuickTime Codes

code
description
specification
albm
Album title and track number (user-data)
3GPP
auth
Media author name (user-data)
3GPP
clip
Visual clipping region container
QT
clsf
Media classification (user-data)
3GPP
cprt
copyright etc. (user-data)
ISO
crgn
Visual clipping region definition
QT
csgm
Compact sample to group used in QuickTime File Format
QT
ctab
Track color-table
QT
dcfD
Marlin DCF Duration, user-data atom type
OMArlin
elng
Extended Language Tag
QT
imap
Track input map definition
QT
kmat
Compressed visual track matte
QT
load
Track pre-load definitions
QT
matt
Visual track matte for compositing
QT
pnot
Preview container
QT
wide
Expansion space reservation
QT