High Efficiency Image Container (.heic)
.heic file signature | image/heic
High Efficiency Image Container (HEIC) is a container format for still images and image sequences, defined by the Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG) and standardized within the ISO/IEC HEIF family. It is used on mobile devices and in photo libraries for storing compressed photographs, burst images, and sequences with smaller file sizes than older formats. HEIC is widely supported in modern systems; files from untrusted sources should still be handled with updated software, as decoding vulnerabilities have occasionally affected image libraries.
Magic Bytes
Offset 4
66 74 79 70 68 65 69 63
Sources: Apache Tika, Wikipedia, Gary Kessler
All Known Signatures
3 signature variants are documented for .heic files across multiple sources.
| Hex Signature | Offset | Sources |
|---|---|---|
| 66 74 79 70 68 65 69 63 | 4 | Apache Tika, Wikipedia, Gary Kessler |
| 66 74 79 70 68 65 69 78 | 4 | Apache Tika |
| 66 74 79 70 6D | 4 | Wikipedia |
Extension
.heic
MIME Type
image/heic
Byte Offset
4
Risk Level
Safe
Validation Code
How to validate .heic files in Python
def is_heic(file_path: str) -> bool:
"""Check if file is a valid HEIC by magic bytes at offset 4."""
signature = bytes([0x66, 0x74, 0x79, 0x70, 0x68, 0x65, 0x69, 0x63])
with open(file_path, "rb") as f:
f.seek(4)
return f.read(8) == signatureHow to validate .heic files in Node.js
function isHEIC(buffer: Buffer): boolean {
const signature = Buffer.from([0x66, 0x74, 0x79, 0x70, 0x68, 0x65, 0x69, 0x63]);
if (buffer.length < 12) return false;
return buffer.subarray(4, 12).equals(signature);
}How to validate .heic files in Go
func IsHEIC(data []byte) bool {
signature := []byte{0x66, 0x74, 0x79, 0x70, 0x68, 0x65, 0x69, 0x63}
if len(data) < 12 {
return false
}
return bytes.Equal(data[4:12], signature)
}API Endpoint
/api/v1/heic
curl https://filesignature.org/api/v1/heic
See the full API documentation for all endpoints and parameters.
Related Formats
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a .heic file?
A .heic file is a High Efficiency Image Container file. High Efficiency Image Container (HEIC) is a container format for still images and image sequences, defined by the Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG) and standardized within the ISO/IEC HEIF family. It is used on mobile devices and in photo libraries for storing compressed photographs, burst images, and sequences with smaller file sizes than older formats. HEIC is widely supported in modern systems; files from untrusted sources should still be handled with updated software, as decoding vulnerabilities have occasionally affected image libraries.
What are the magic bytes for .heic files?
The magic bytes for High Efficiency Image Container files are 66 74 79 70 68 65 69 63 at byte offset 4. These bytes uniquely identify the file format regardless of the file extension.
How do I validate a .heic file?
To validate a .heic file, read the first bytes of the file and compare them against the known magic bytes (66 74 79 70 68 65 69 63) at offset 4. This is more reliable than checking the file extension alone, as extensions can be renamed.
What is the MIME type for .heic files?
The primary MIME type for .heic files is image/heic.
Is it safe to open .heic files?
High Efficiency Image Container (.heic) 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.