Poly(malonic ester) with two symmetrical azobenzene groups (PDR1) was synthesized, and azo dye-doped polymer (ADP) thin films were prepared using PDR1 and matrix polymers such as PMMA, PC, and PVK. All the ADP thin films were found to be suitable as reversible media for data storage and retrieval. The mechanism of the optical recording was a trans-cis isomerization of the azobenzene units by the irradiation of linearly polarized Ar laser and thermal process.