Microsoft OutlookPersonal Folder File (.pst)
.pst file signature | application/vnd.ms-outlook-pst
Microsoft OutlookPersonal Storage Tablefile
Magic Bytes
Offset 0
21 42 44 4E
Sources: Wikipedia, Gary Kessler
All Known Signatures
2 signature variants are documented for .pst files across multiple sources.
| Hex Signature | Offset | Sources |
|---|---|---|
| 21 42 44 4E | 0 | Wikipedia, Gary Kessler |
| 21 42 44 4E 2E 2E 2E 2E 53 4D | 0 | Apache Tika |
Extension
.pst
MIME Type
application/vnd.ms-outlook-pst
Byte Offset
0
Risk Level
Safe
Validation Code
How to validate .pst files in Python
def is_pst(file_path: str) -> bool:
"""Check if file is a valid PST by magic bytes."""
signature = bytes([0x21, 0x42, 0x44, 0x4E])
with open(file_path, "rb") as f:
return f.read(4) == signatureHow to validate .pst files in Node.js
function isPST(buffer: Buffer): boolean {
const signature = Buffer.from([0x21, 0x42, 0x44, 0x4E]);
return buffer.subarray(0, 4).equals(signature);
}How to validate .pst files in Go
func IsPST(data []byte) bool {
signature := []byte{0x21, 0x42, 0x44, 0x4E}
if len(data) < 4 {
return false
}
return bytes.Equal(data[:4], signature)
}API Endpoint
/api/v1/pst
curl https://filesignature.org/api/v1/pst
See the full API documentation for all endpoints and parameters.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a .pst file?
A .pst file is a Microsoft OutlookPersonal Folder File file. Microsoft OutlookPersonal Storage Tablefile
What are the magic bytes for .pst files?
The magic bytes for Microsoft OutlookPersonal Folder File files are 21 42 44 4E at byte offset 0. These bytes uniquely identify the file format regardless of the file extension.
How do I validate a .pst file?
To validate a .pst file, read the first bytes of the file and compare them against the known magic bytes (21 42 44 4E) at offset 0. This is more reliable than checking the file extension alone, as extensions can be renamed.
What is the MIME type for .pst files?
The primary MIME type for .pst files is application/vnd.ms-outlook-pst.
Is it safe to open .pst files?
Microsoft OutlookPersonal Folder File (.pst) 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.