There are many types of DNA polymerases which can excise, fill gaps, proofread, repair and replicate.
(a) DNA synthesis starts at a specific place on a chromosome called an origin. In the first mechanism one daughter strand is initiated at an origin on one parental strand and the second is initiated at another origin on the opposite parental strand. Thus only one strand grows from each origin. Some viruses use this type of mechanism.
(b) In the second mechanism replication of both strands is initiated at one origin. The site at which the two strands are replicated is called the replication fork. Since the fork moves in one direction from the origin this type of replication is called unidirectional. Some types of bacteria use this type of mechanism.
(c) In the third mechanism two replication forks are initiated at the origin and as synthesis proceeds the two forks migrate away from one another. This type of replication is called bi-directional. Most organisms, including mammals, use bi-directional replication.