Outlook Express e-mail folder (.dbx)
.dbx file signature | application/octet-stream
DBX is a mailbox file format used by Microsoft Outlook Express, a legacy email client developed by Microsoft for Windows. It stores messages and folder data for local email archives, imported mail, and account organization within Outlook Express and compatible recovery tools. The format is obsolete, and although generally safe to inspect, old DBX files may be difficult to open without specialized software or conversion utilities.
Magic Bytes
Offset 0
CF AD 12 FE
Sources: Gary Kessler
Extension
.dbx
MIME Type
application/octet-stream
Byte Offset
0
Risk Level
Safe
Validation Code
How to validate .dbx files in Python
def is_dbx(file_path: str) -> bool:
"""Check if file is a valid DBX by magic bytes."""
signature = bytes([0xCF, 0xAD, 0x12, 0xFE])
with open(file_path, "rb") as f:
return f.read(4) == signatureHow to validate .dbx files in Node.js
function isDBX(buffer: Buffer): boolean {
const signature = Buffer.from([0xCF, 0xAD, 0x12, 0xFE]);
return buffer.subarray(0, 4).equals(signature);
}How to validate .dbx files in Go
func IsDBX(data []byte) bool {
signature := []byte{0xCF, 0xAD, 0x12, 0xFE}
if len(data) < 4 {
return false
}
return bytes.Equal(data[:4], signature)
}API Endpoint
/api/v1/dbx
curl https://filesignature.org/api/v1/dbx
See the full API documentation for all endpoints and parameters.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a .dbx file?
A .dbx file is a Outlook Express e-mail folder file. DBX is a mailbox file format used by Microsoft Outlook Express, a legacy email client developed by Microsoft for Windows. It stores messages and folder data for local email archives, imported mail, and account organization within Outlook Express and compatible recovery tools. The format is obsolete, and although generally safe to inspect, old DBX files may be difficult to open without specialized software or conversion utilities.
What are the magic bytes for .dbx files?
The magic bytes for Outlook Express e-mail folder files are CF AD 12 FE at byte offset 0. These bytes uniquely identify the file format regardless of the file extension.
How do I validate a .dbx file?
To validate a .dbx file, read the first bytes of the file and compare them against the known magic bytes (CF AD 12 FE) at offset 0. This is more reliable than checking the file extension alone, as extensions can be renamed.
What is the MIME type for .dbx files?
There is no officially registered MIME type for .dbx files. Systems typically use application/octet-stream as a generic fallback when handling this format.
Is it safe to open .dbx files?
Outlook Express e-mail folder (.dbx) 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.