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JOURNAL magic bytes (.journal)

.journal file signature: 4C 50 4B 53 48 48 52 48 | application/octet-stream

JOURNAL is a binary document format created and maintained by Microsoft for Microsoft Journal. It is used for handwritten notes, sketches, and ink-based annotations on Windows devices, particularly in educational and meeting workflows. As a proprietary format, it is generally safe to open in supported applications, though older files may require legacy Microsoft software or converters for full editing support on modern systems.

Safe

Magic Bytes

Offset 0
4C 50 4B 53 48 48 52 48

Sources: Wikipedia

Extension

.journal

MIME Type

application/octet-stream

Byte Offset

0

Risk Level

Safe

Validation Code

How to validate .journal files in Python

Python 
def is_journal(file_path: str) -> bool:
    """Check if file is a valid JOURNAL by magic bytes."""
    signature = bytes([0x4C, 0x50, 0x4B, 0x53, 0x48, 0x48, 0x52, 0x48])
    with open(file_path, "rb") as f:
        return f.read(8) == signature

How to validate .journal files in Node.js

Node.js 
function isJOURNAL(buffer: Buffer): boolean {
  const signature = Buffer.from([0x4C, 0x50, 0x4B, 0x53, 0x48, 0x48, 0x52, 0x48]);
  return buffer.subarray(0, 8).equals(signature);
}

How to validate .journal files in Go

Go 
func IsJOURNAL(data []byte) bool {
    signature := []byte{0x4C, 0x50, 0x4B, 0x53, 0x48, 0x48, 0x52, 0x48}
    if len(data) < 8 {
        return false
    }
    return bytes.Equal(data[:8], signature)
}

API Endpoint

GET /api/v1/journal
curl https://filesignature.org/api/v1/journal

See the full API documentation for all endpoints and parameters.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a .journal file?

A .journal file is identified by the magic bytes 4C 50 4B 53 48 48 52 48 at byte offset 0. JOURNAL is a binary document format created and maintained by Microsoft for Microsoft Journal. It is used for handwritten notes, sketches, and ink-based annotations on Windows devices, particularly in educational and meeting workflows. As a proprietary format, it is generally safe to open in supported applications, though older files may require legacy Microsoft software or converters for full editing support on modern systems.

What are the magic bytes for .journal files?

The magic bytes for JOURNAL (.journal) files are 4C 50 4B 53 48 48 52 48 at byte offset 0. These bytes identify the file format more reliably than the extension alone.

How do I validate a .journal file?

To validate a .journal file, read the first bytes of the file and compare them against the known magic bytes (4C 50 4B 53 48 48 52 48) at offset 0. This is more reliable than checking the file extension alone, as extensions can be renamed.

What is the MIME type for .journal files?

There is no officially registered MIME type for .journal files. Systems typically use application/octet-stream as a generic fallback when handling this format.

Is it safe to open .journal files?

JOURNAL (.journal) 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.