Visual C PreCompiled header file (.pch)
.pch file signature | application/octet-stream
Visual C PreCompiled header file
Magic Bytes
Offset 0
43 50 43 48
Sources: Wikipedia
All Known Signatures
2 signature variants are documented for .pch files across multiple sources.
| Hex Signature | Offset | Sources |
|---|---|---|
| 43 50 43 48 | 0 | Wikipedia |
| 56 43 50 43 48 30 | 0 | Gary Kessler |
Extension
.pch
MIME Type
application/octet-stream
Byte Offset
0
Risk Level
Safe
Validation Code
How to validate .pch files in Python
def is_pch(file_path: str) -> bool:
"""Check if file is a valid PCH by magic bytes."""
signature = bytes([0x43, 0x50, 0x43, 0x48])
with open(file_path, "rb") as f:
return f.read(4) == signatureHow to validate .pch files in Node.js
function isPCH(buffer: Buffer): boolean {
const signature = Buffer.from([0x43, 0x50, 0x43, 0x48]);
return buffer.subarray(0, 4).equals(signature);
}How to validate .pch files in Go
func IsPCH(data []byte) bool {
signature := []byte{0x43, 0x50, 0x43, 0x48}
if len(data) < 4 {
return false
}
return bytes.Equal(data[:4], signature)
}API Endpoint
/api/v1/pch
curl https://filesignature.org/api/v1/pch
See the full API documentation for all endpoints and parameters.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a .pch file?
A .pch file is a Visual C PreCompiled header file file. Visual C PreCompiled header file
What are the magic bytes for .pch files?
The magic bytes for Visual C PreCompiled header file files are 43 50 43 48 at byte offset 0. These bytes uniquely identify the file format regardless of the file extension.
How do I validate a .pch file?
To validate a .pch file, read the first bytes of the file and compare them against the known magic bytes (43 50 43 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 .pch files?
There is no officially registered MIME type for .pch files. Systems typically use application/octet-stream as a generic fallback when handling this format.
Is it safe to open .pch files?
Visual C PreCompiled header file (.pch) 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.