Access 97 database, VB front end

I understand that when data is deleted from the database its size remains the same until it has been compacted.

Now, my question is...

Is new data written over the deleted data or does it get appended to it?



a database:
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

add new data(00000)
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX00000

delete some data:
XXXXXXXX________XXXXXXXXXX


compact the database:
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

when I add new data and the database has NOT been compacted which of the following occurs?

XXXXXXXX________XXXXXXXXXX00000

or:

XXXXXXXX00000___XXXXXXXXXX