HDF (.hdf)
.hdf file signature | application/x-hdf
Hierarchical Data Format (HDF) is a scientific data format developed by the National Center for Supercomputing Applications and now maintained by The HDF Group. It is used to store and organize large, complex datasets in fields such as earth science, astronomy, engineering, and high-performance computing, and is supported by libraries and tools across multiple platforms. HDF is a legacy format family with multiple versions, and files from older releases may require compatibility software to open or convert them safely.
Magic Bytes
Offset 0
0E 03 13 01
Sources: Apache Tika
All Known Signatures
2 signature variants are documented for .hdf files across multiple sources.
| Hex Signature | Offset | Sources |
|---|---|---|
| 0E 03 13 01 | 0 | Apache Tika |
| 89 48 44 46 0D 0A 1A | 0 | Apache Tika |
Extension
.hdf
MIME Type
application/x-hdf
Byte Offset
0
Risk Level
Safe
Validation Code
How to validate .hdf files in Python
def is_hdf(file_path: str) -> bool:
"""Check if file is a valid HDF by magic bytes."""
signature = bytes([0x0E, 0x03, 0x13, 0x01])
with open(file_path, "rb") as f:
return f.read(4) == signatureHow to validate .hdf files in Node.js
function isHDF(buffer: Buffer): boolean {
const signature = Buffer.from([0x0E, 0x03, 0x13, 0x01]);
return buffer.subarray(0, 4).equals(signature);
}How to validate .hdf files in Go
func IsHDF(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/hdf
curl https://filesignature.org/api/v1/hdf
See the full API documentation for all endpoints and parameters.
Related Formats
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a .hdf file?
A .hdf file is identified by the magic bytes 0E 03 13 01 at byte offset 0. Hierarchical Data Format (HDF) is a scientific data format developed by the National Center for Supercomputing Applications and now maintained by The HDF Group. It is used to store and organize large, complex datasets in fields such as earth science, astronomy, engineering, and high-performance computing, and is supported by libraries and tools across multiple platforms. HDF is a legacy format family with multiple versions, and files from older releases may require compatibility software to open or convert them safely.
What are the magic bytes for .hdf files?
The magic bytes for HDF 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 .hdf file?
To validate a .hdf 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 .hdf files?
The primary MIME type for .hdf files is application/x-hdf.
Is it safe to open .hdf files?
HDF (.hdf) 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.