File format

lastmod 2025-04-14created 2015-08-117 edits

A file format is a particular way of encoding information into a computer file for storage. Because a disk drive, or indeed any computer storage device, can only store bits, computers needed a way to convert information to 0s and 1s and back again. These differ in format and in information. Several different formats will usually be given within a single file format, such as a word processor document. These formats sometimes compete with one another.

File formats are divided into proprietary and open formats.

Libraries

• Kaitai Struct
• Google Wuffs - A programming language for handling file formats safely

See also

• FourCC
• Filename
• Vert - An open-source, self-hostable file converter
• Convert

Favorite site

• Wikipedia (en) Explanation of file formats
• Wikipedia (en) Image file formats (including Vector formats)