The arrows that extend along each of the storage layers 402, 404, 406 also indicate the intended direction in which data are written to the tracks therein. For example, data may initially be written to a first track (e.g., track closest to the center of the optical disk 400) of storage layer 402, while subsequent data are written to tracks in storage layer 402 radially outwards from the center 412 of the optical disk 400. It should be noted that while the cross-sectional view of FIG. 4A makes it appear that data are only written to one side of the optical disk 400, the data are actually written to each of the tracks in a circular fashion, progressively working towards the outer diameter 410 of the optical disk 400, e.g., as illustrated by the circular arrows in FIG. 4C. In other words, the data encoding pattern for the optical disk 400 preferably follows a continuous, spiral path covering the entire storage layer 402 and extending from the innermost track to the outermost track.