ACE (.ace)
.ace file signature | application/x-ace-compressed
ACE is a compressed archive file format originally developed by e-merge GmbH for the WinACE archiver and is now largely a legacy format with no active formal maintenance. It was used to reduce file size and bundle multiple files into a single archive for software distribution, backups, and general file transfer. Because ACE archives are uncommon today, support in modern tools is limited, and files from untrusted sources should be handled cautiously, as with any archive format.
Magic Bytes
Offset 7
2A 2A 41 43 45 2A 2A
Sources: Wikipedia
Extension
.ace
MIME Type
application/x-ace-compressed
Byte Offset
7
Risk Level
Safe
Validation Code
How to validate .ace files in Python
def is_ace(file_path: str) -> bool:
"""Check if file is a valid ACE by magic bytes at offset 7."""
signature = bytes([0x2A, 0x2A, 0x41, 0x43, 0x45, 0x2A, 0x2A])
with open(file_path, "rb") as f:
f.seek(7)
return f.read(7) == signatureHow to validate .ace files in Node.js
function isACE(buffer: Buffer): boolean {
const signature = Buffer.from([0x2A, 0x2A, 0x41, 0x43, 0x45, 0x2A, 0x2A]);
if (buffer.length < 14) return false;
return buffer.subarray(7, 14).equals(signature);
}How to validate .ace files in Go
func IsACE(data []byte) bool {
signature := []byte{0x2A, 0x2A, 0x41, 0x43, 0x45, 0x2A, 0x2A}
if len(data) < 14 {
return false
}
return bytes.Equal(data[7:14], signature)
}API Endpoint
/api/v1/ace
curl https://filesignature.org/api/v1/ace
See the full API documentation for all endpoints and parameters.
Related Formats
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a .ace file?
A .ace file is identified by the magic bytes 2A 2A 41 43 45 2A 2A at byte offset 7. ACE is a compressed archive file format originally developed by e-merge GmbH for the WinACE archiver and is now largely a legacy format with no active formal maintenance. It was used to reduce file size and bundle multiple files into a single archive for software distribution, backups, and general file transfer. Because ACE archives are uncommon today, support in modern tools is limited, and files from untrusted sources should be handled cautiously, as with any archive format.
What are the magic bytes for .ace files?
The magic bytes for ACE files are 2A 2A 41 43 45 2A 2A at byte offset 7. These bytes uniquely identify the file format regardless of the file extension.
How do I validate a .ace file?
To validate a .ace file, read the first bytes of the file and compare them against the known magic bytes (2A 2A 41 43 45 2A 2A) at offset 7. This is more reliable than checking the file extension alone, as extensions can be renamed.
What is the MIME type for .ace files?
The primary MIME type for .ace files is application/x-ace-compressed.
Is it safe to open .ace files?
ACE (.ace) 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.