Merriam-Webster Pocket Dictionary file magic bytes (.pdb)
.pdb file signature: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 | application/vnd.palm
The PDB format for Merriam-Webster Pocket Dictionary files is a Palm OS database format used for dictionary content published by Merriam-Webster. It is used by Palm-compatible devices and desktop tools that display, search, or sync dictionary entries and reference data. This is a legacy format associated with older Palm software; it is generally safe, though files from untrusted sources should still be handled cautiously.
Magic Bytes
Offset 11
00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
Sources: Wikipedia
All Known Signatures
7 signature variants are documented for .pdb files across multiple sources.
| Hex Signature | Offset | Sources |
|---|---|---|
| 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 | 11 | Wikipedia |
| 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 | 11 | Gary Kessler |
| 4D 2D 57 20 50 6F 63 6B 65 74 20 44 69 63 74 69 | 0 | Gary Kessler |
| 4D 69 63 72 6F 73 6F 66 74 20 43 2F 43 2B 2B 20 | 0 | Gary Kessler |
| 73 6D 5F | 0 | Gary Kessler |
| 73 7A 65 7A | 0 | Gary Kessler |
| AC ED 00 05 73 72 00 12 62 67 62 6C 69 74 7A 2E | 0 | Gary Kessler |
Validation Code
How to validate .pdb files in Python
def is_pdb(file_path: str) -> bool:
"""Check if file is a valid PDB by magic bytes at offset 11."""
signature = bytes([0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00])
with open(file_path, "rb") as f:
f.seek(11)
return f.read(8) == signatureHow to validate .pdb files in Node.js
function isPDB(buffer: Buffer): boolean {
const signature = Buffer.from([0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00]);
if (buffer.length < 19) return false;
return buffer.subarray(11, 19).equals(signature);
}How to validate .pdb files in Go
func IsPDB(data []byte) bool {
signature := []byte{0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00}
if len(data) < 19 {
return false
}
return bytes.Equal(data[11:19], signature)
}API Endpoint
/api/v1/pdb
curl https://filesignature.org/api/v1/pdb
See the full API documentation for all endpoints and parameters.
Related Formats
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a .pdb file?
A .pdb file is a Merriam-Webster Pocket Dictionary file. The PDB format for Merriam-Webster Pocket Dictionary files is a Palm OS database format used for dictionary content published by Merriam-Webster. It is used by Palm-compatible devices and desktop tools that display, search, or sync dictionary entries and reference data. This is a legacy format associated with older Palm software; it is generally safe, though files from untrusted sources should still be handled cautiously.
What are the magic bytes for .pdb files?
The magic bytes for Merriam-Webster Pocket Dictionary file (.pdb) files are 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 at byte offset 11. These bytes identify the file format more reliably than the extension alone.
How do I validate a .pdb file?
To validate a .pdb file, read the first bytes of the file and compare them against the known magic bytes (00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00) at offset 11. This is more reliable than checking the file extension alone, as extensions can be renamed.
What is the MIME type for .pdb files?
The primary MIME type for .pdb files is application/vnd.palm.
Is it safe to open .pdb files?
Merriam-Webster Pocket Dictionary file (.pdb) 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.