LAZ (.laz)
.laz file signature | application/x-asprs
LAZ is a compressed LiDAR point cloud file format based on the LAS specification, originally developed by the LASzip project and maintained within the ASPRS ecosystem. It is used to store airborne and terrestrial laser scanning data for mapping, surveying, geospatial analysis, and 3D terrain modeling in software such as GIS and point cloud processing tools. The format is generally safe, but very large datasets can require substantial memory and processing resources when opened.
Magic Bytes
Offset 0
4C 41 53 46
Sources: Apache Tika
Extension
.laz
MIME Type
application/x-asprs
Byte Offset
0
Risk Level
Safe
Validation Code
How to validate .laz files in Python
def is_laz(file_path: str) -> bool:
"""Check if file is a valid LAZ by magic bytes."""
signature = bytes([0x4C, 0x41, 0x53, 0x46])
with open(file_path, "rb") as f:
return f.read(4) == signatureHow to validate .laz files in Node.js
function isLAZ(buffer: Buffer): boolean {
const signature = Buffer.from([0x4C, 0x41, 0x53, 0x46]);
return buffer.subarray(0, 4).equals(signature);
}How to validate .laz files in Go
func IsLAZ(data []byte) bool {
signature := []byte{0x4C, 0x41, 0x53, 0x46}
if len(data) < 4 {
return false
}
return bytes.Equal(data[:4], signature)
}API Endpoint
/api/v1/laz
curl https://filesignature.org/api/v1/laz
See the full API documentation for all endpoints and parameters.
Related Formats
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a .laz file?
A .laz file is identified by the magic bytes 4C 41 53 46 at byte offset 0. LAZ is a compressed LiDAR point cloud file format based on the LAS specification, originally developed by the LASzip project and maintained within the ASPRS ecosystem. It is used to store airborne and terrestrial laser scanning data for mapping, surveying, geospatial analysis, and 3D terrain modeling in software such as GIS and point cloud processing tools. The format is generally safe, but very large datasets can require substantial memory and processing resources when opened.
What are the magic bytes for .laz files?
The magic bytes for LAZ files are 4C 41 53 46 at byte offset 0. These bytes uniquely identify the file format regardless of the file extension.
How do I validate a .laz file?
To validate a .laz file, read the first bytes of the file and compare them against the known magic bytes (4C 41 53 46) at offset 0. This is more reliable than checking the file extension alone, as extensions can be renamed.
What is the MIME type for .laz files?
The primary MIME type for .laz files is application/x-asprs.
Is it safe to open .laz files?
LAZ (.laz) 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.