System for locating data on tape

A system for locating data while a tape is moving forward or backward. The system includes a backward header (86) comprising data configured for recording on tape (10) so that the data can be read when the tape (10) is moving backward. The system may also include a controller (28) configured to record and read the backward header (86). A memory device (44, 45 or 26) stores instructions that when executed cause a head (20) to read header information on the tape (10) when the tape (10) is moving backward. A memory device (44, 45 or 26) stores instructions that when executed cause the head (20) to record header information on the tape (10) so that the header information is readable when the tape (10) is moving backward. A memory device (44, 45 or 26) stores instructions that when executed cause a head (20) to record a forward header (82) on a first data track of the tape (10) and a backward header (86) on a second data track. The forward header (82) is readable when the tape (10) is moving forward (for that track) and the backward header (86) is readable when the tape (10) is moving backward (for that track). The memory device (44, 45 or 26) through which the invention is implemented may be, for example, circuitry in the tape drive controller (28), in an application specific integrated circuit, in the controller (28) system software or in the host computer (26) software.