H4 (.h4)
.h4 file signature | application/octet-stream
Hierarchical Data Format version 4 (HDF4) is a scientific data file format originally developed at the National Center for Supercomputing Applications and now maintained by The HDF Group. It is used to store large, complex datasets in fields such as remote sensing, astronomy, atmospheric science, and other research applications that require structured arrays and metadata. HDF4 is a legacy format preceded by HDF5, but it remains supported by many analysis tools and is generally considered safe when opened with current software.
Magic Bytes
Offset 0
0E 03 13 01
Sources: Wikipedia
Extension
.h4
MIME Type
application/octet-stream
Byte Offset
0
Risk Level
Safe
Validation Code
How to validate .h4 files in Python
def is_h4(file_path: str) -> bool:
"""Check if file is a valid H4 by magic bytes."""
signature = bytes([0x0E, 0x03, 0x13, 0x01])
with open(file_path, "rb") as f:
return f.read(4) == signatureHow to validate .h4 files in Node.js
function isH4(buffer: Buffer): boolean {
const signature = Buffer.from([0x0E, 0x03, 0x13, 0x01]);
return buffer.subarray(0, 4).equals(signature);
}How to validate .h4 files in Go
func IsH4(data []byte) bool {
signature := []byte{0x0E, 0x03, 0x13, 0x01}
if len(data) < 4 {
return false
}
return bytes.Equal(data[:4], signature)
}API Endpoint
/api/v1/h4
curl https://filesignature.org/api/v1/h4
See the full API documentation for all endpoints and parameters.
Related Formats
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a .h4 file?
A .h4 file is identified by the magic bytes 0E 03 13 01 at byte offset 0. Hierarchical Data Format version 4 (HDF4) is a scientific data file format originally developed at the National Center for Supercomputing Applications and now maintained by The HDF Group. It is used to store large, complex datasets in fields such as remote sensing, astronomy, atmospheric science, and other research applications that require structured arrays and metadata. HDF4 is a legacy format preceded by HDF5, but it remains supported by many analysis tools and is generally considered safe when opened with current software.
What are the magic bytes for .h4 files?
The magic bytes for H4 files are 0E 03 13 01 at byte offset 0. These bytes uniquely identify the file format regardless of the file extension.
How do I validate a .h4 file?
To validate a .h4 file, read the first bytes of the file and compare them against the known magic bytes (0E 03 13 01) at offset 0. This is more reliable than checking the file extension alone, as extensions can be renamed.
What is the MIME type for .h4 files?
There is no officially registered MIME type for .h4 files. Systems typically use application/octet-stream as a generic fallback when handling this format.
Is it safe to open .h4 files?
H4 (.h4) 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.