MDF and MDS file pair

MDF
Filename extension .mdf
Magic number MEDIA DESCRIPTOR
Type of format Disc image
MDS
Filename extension .mds
Magic number MEDIA DESCRIPTOR
Type of format Disc image

An MDF file is a disc image file that may hold the contents of an optical disc such as a CD or a DVD.[1][2] An MDS file accompanies each MDF file. It is an optional media descriptor file that contains metadata about the original media. [3][4]

MDF/MDS file pairs may be created by optical disc imaging applications such as Alcohol 120% and Daemon Tools. For a list of such software, see: Comparison of disc image software.

Details

The MDS format is a binary file that contains metadata such as the position of the layer breaks or layer breach bit, a property of the copy protection feature of optical discs. Magic number "MEDIA DESCRIPTOR" appears at the beginning of the file. An MDS file is used in conjunction with its related MDF disc image.

References

  1. ^ ".MDF File Extension". FileInfo.com. 29 September 2009. http://www.fileinfo.com/extension/mdf. Retrieved 11 December 2011. 
  2. ^ "File extension MDF - Alcohol 120% disc image file format". File-Extensions.org. http://www.file-extensions.org/mdf-file-extension. Retrieved 11 December 2011. 
  3. ^ ".MDS File Extension". FileInfo.com. 17 September 2010. http://www.fileinfo.com/extension/mds. Retrieved 11 December 2011. 
  4. ^ "File extension MDS - Alcohol 120% Image file (media descriptor file) format". File-Extensions.org. http://www.file-extensions.org/mds-file-extension. Retrieved 11 December 2011. 

External links

Optical disc
CCD/IMG/SUB · CUE/BIN · CSO · DAA · IBP/IBQ · ISO · ISZ · MDS/MDF · MDX · NRG · UIF
Hard disk
DMG · QCOW · UDIF · VDI · VHD · VMDK · WIM
Floppy disk
DCF · DMS · IMA/IMZ · IMG · VFD · ADF/ADZ