AOL history (.arl)
.arl file signature | application/octet-stream
AOL history (ARL) and typed URL (AUT) files
Magic Bytes
Offset 0
D4 2A
Sources: Gary Kessler
Extension
.arl
MIME Type
application/octet-stream
Byte Offset
0
Risk Level
Safe
Validation Code
How to validate .arl files in Python
def is_arl(file_path: str) -> bool:
"""Check if file is a valid ARL by magic bytes."""
signature = bytes([0xD4, 0x2A])
with open(file_path, "rb") as f:
return f.read(2) == signatureHow to validate .arl files in Node.js
function isARL(buffer: Buffer): boolean {
const signature = Buffer.from([0xD4, 0x2A]);
return buffer.subarray(0, 2).equals(signature);
}How to validate .arl files in Go
func IsARL(data []byte) bool {
signature := []byte{0xD4, 0x2A}
if len(data) < 2 {
return false
}
return bytes.Equal(data[:2], signature)
}API Endpoint
/api/v1/arl
curl https://filesignature.org/api/v1/arl
See the full API documentation for all endpoints and parameters.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a .arl file?
A .arl file is a AOL history file. AOL history (ARL) and typed URL (AUT) files
What are the magic bytes for .arl files?
The magic bytes for AOL history files are D4 2A at byte offset 0. These bytes uniquely identify the file format regardless of the file extension.
How do I validate a .arl file?
To validate a .arl file, read the first bytes of the file and compare them against the known magic bytes (D4 2A) at offset 0. This is more reliable than checking the file extension alone, as extensions can be renamed.
What is the MIME type for .arl files?
There is no officially registered MIME type for .arl files. Systems typically use application/octet-stream as a generic fallback when handling this format.
Is it safe to open .arl files?
AOL history (.arl) 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.