Audio Interchange File Format (AIFF) (.aif)
.aif file signature | audio/aiff
Audio Interchange File Format (AIFF) is an uncompressed audio file format developed by Apple Inc. for storing and exchanging digital sound data. It is used for music production, archiving, and playback in audio editing applications and media players, particularly on Apple platforms. AIFF is a legacy format with broad compatibility, and it is generally considered safe, though any media file should be handled carefully when obtained from untrusted sources.
Magic Bytes
Offset 0
46 4F 52 4D
All Known Signatures
4 signature variants are documented for .aif files across multiple sources.
| Hex Signature | Offset | Sources |
|---|---|---|
| 46 4F 52 4D | 0 | Apple AIFF 1.3 Specification (IFF container) |
| 46 4F 52 4D 2E 2E 2E 2E 38 53 56 58 | 0 | Apache Tika |
| 46 4F 52 4D 00 | 0 | Apache Tika |
| 41 49 46 46 | 0 | Wikipedia |
Extension
.aif
MIME Type
audio/aiff, audio/x-aiff
Byte Offset
0
Risk Level
Safe
Validation Code
How to validate .aif files in Python
def is_aif(file_path: str) -> bool:
"""Check if file is a valid AIF by magic bytes."""
signature = bytes([0x46, 0x4F, 0x52, 0x4D])
with open(file_path, "rb") as f:
return f.read(4) == signatureHow to validate .aif files in Node.js
function isAIF(buffer: Buffer): boolean {
const signature = Buffer.from([0x46, 0x4F, 0x52, 0x4D]);
return buffer.subarray(0, 4).equals(signature);
}How to validate .aif files in Go
func IsAIF(data []byte) bool {
signature := []byte{0x46, 0x4F, 0x52, 0x4D}
if len(data) < 4 {
return false
}
return bytes.Equal(data[:4], signature)
}API Endpoint
/api/v1/aif
curl https://filesignature.org/api/v1/aif
See the full API documentation for all endpoints and parameters.
Related Formats
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a .aif file?
A .aif file is a Audio Interchange File Format (AIFF) file. Audio Interchange File Format (AIFF) is an uncompressed audio file format developed by Apple Inc. for storing and exchanging digital sound data. It is used for music production, archiving, and playback in audio editing applications and media players, particularly on Apple platforms. AIFF is a legacy format with broad compatibility, and it is generally considered safe, though any media file should be handled carefully when obtained from untrusted sources.
What are the magic bytes for .aif files?
The magic bytes for Audio Interchange File Format (AIFF) files are 46 4F 52 4D at byte offset 0. These bytes uniquely identify the file format regardless of the file extension.
How do I validate a .aif file?
To validate a .aif file, read the first bytes of the file and compare them against the known magic bytes (46 4F 52 4D) at offset 0. This is more reliable than checking the file extension alone, as extensions can be renamed.
What is the MIME type for .aif files?
The primary MIME type for .aif files is audio/aiff. Additional MIME types include: audio/aiff, audio/x-aiff.
Is it safe to open .aif files?
Audio Interchange File Format (AIFF) (.aif) 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.