Windows Help file (.hlp)
.hlp file signature | application/octet-stream
Windows 3.x/95/98 Help file
Magic Bytes
Offset 0
3F 5F
Sources: Wikipedia
All Known Signatures
5 signature variants are documented for .hlp files across multiple sources.
| Hex Signature | Offset | Sources |
|---|---|---|
| 3F 5F | 0 | Wikipedia |
| 00 00 FE FF | 0 | Gary Kessler |
| 00 00 FF FF FF FF | 6 | Gary Kessler |
| 3F 5F 03 00 | 0 | Gary Kessler |
| 4C 4E 02 00 | 0 | Gary Kessler |
Extension
.hlp
MIME Type
application/octet-stream
Byte Offset
0
Risk Level
Safe
Validation Code
How to validate .hlp files in Python
def is_hlp(file_path: str) -> bool:
"""Check if file is a valid HLP by magic bytes."""
signature = bytes([0x3F, 0x5F])
with open(file_path, "rb") as f:
return f.read(2) == signature
How to validate .hlp files in Node.js
function isHLP(buffer: Buffer): boolean {
const signature = Buffer.from([0x3F, 0x5F]);
return buffer.subarray(0, 2).equals(signature);
}
How to validate .hlp files in Go
func IsHLP(data []byte) bool {
signature := []byte{0x3F, 0x5F}
if len(data) < 2 {
return false
}
return bytes.Equal(data[:2], signature)
}
API Endpoint
/api/v1/hlp
curl https://filesignature.org/api/v1/hlp
See the full API documentation for all endpoints and parameters.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a .hlp file?
A .hlp file is a Windows Help file file. Windows 3.x/95/98 Help file
What are the magic bytes for .hlp files?
The magic bytes for Windows Help file files are 3F 5F at byte offset 0. These bytes uniquely identify the file format regardless of the file extension.
How do I validate a .hlp file?
To validate a .hlp file, read the first bytes of the file and compare them against the known magic bytes (3F 5F) at offset 0. This is more reliable than checking the file extension alone, as extensions can be renamed.
What is the MIME type for .hlp files?
There is no officially registered MIME type for .hlp files. Systems typically use application/octet-stream as a generic fallback when handling this format.
Is it safe to open .hlp files?
Windows Help file (.hlp) 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.