AAR (.aar)
.aar file signature | application/java-archive
AAR (Android Archive) is a package format used by Google’s Android ecosystem to distribute Android library modules. It is used by Android Studio and Gradle for sharing compiled code, resources, manifests, and assets between Android projects. Because it is based on the ZIP container, AAR files should be treated like other archives and opened only from trusted sources, although the format itself is generally considered safe.
Magic Bytes
Offset 0
50 4B 03 04
Sources: Wikipedia
All Known Signatures
3 signature variants are documented for .aar files across multiple sources.
Extension
.aar
MIME Type
application/java-archive
Byte Offset
0
Risk Level
Safe
Validation Code
How to validate .aar files in Python
def is_aar(file_path: str) -> bool:
"""Check if file is a valid AAR by magic bytes."""
signature = bytes([0x50, 0x4B, 0x03, 0x04])
with open(file_path, "rb") as f:
return f.read(4) == signatureHow to validate .aar files in Node.js
function isAAR(buffer: Buffer): boolean {
const signature = Buffer.from([0x50, 0x4B, 0x03, 0x04]);
return buffer.subarray(0, 4).equals(signature);
}How to validate .aar files in Go
func IsAAR(data []byte) bool {
signature := []byte{0x50, 0x4B, 0x03, 0x04}
if len(data) < 4 {
return false
}
return bytes.Equal(data[:4], signature)
}API Endpoint
/api/v1/aar
curl https://filesignature.org/api/v1/aar
See the full API documentation for all endpoints and parameters.
Related Formats
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a .aar file?
A .aar file is identified by the magic bytes 50 4B 03 04 at byte offset 0. AAR (Android Archive) is a package format used by Google’s Android ecosystem to distribute Android library modules. It is used by Android Studio and Gradle for sharing compiled code, resources, manifests, and assets between Android projects. Because it is based on the ZIP container, AAR files should be treated like other archives and opened only from trusted sources, although the format itself is generally considered safe.
What are the magic bytes for .aar files?
The magic bytes for AAR files are 50 4B 03 04 at byte offset 0. These bytes uniquely identify the file format regardless of the file extension.
How do I validate a .aar file?
To validate a .aar file, read the first bytes of the file and compare them against the known magic bytes (50 4B 03 04) at offset 0. This is more reliable than checking the file extension alone, as extensions can be renamed.
What is the MIME type for .aar files?
The primary MIME type for .aar files is application/java-archive.
Is it safe to open .aar files?
AAR (.aar) files are generally safe to open. They are classified as low risk because they primarily contain data rather than executable code. However, always ensure files come from a trusted source.