RealMedia metafile (.ram)
.ram file signature | audio/x-pn-realaudio
RealMedia metafile (RAM) is a playlist and reference file format developed and maintained by RealNetworks for the RealMedia streaming ecosystem. It is used to point media players to streaming audio or video content and was commonly employed for internet radio, online clips, and other RealPlayer-based delivery systems. The format is legacy and largely obsolete, and its files are generally safe, though any referenced remote media should still be opened from trusted sources.
Magic Bytes
Offset 0
2E 72 61 FD
Sources: Apache Tika
All Known Signatures
2 signature variants are documented for .ram files across multiple sources.
| Hex Signature | Offset | Sources |
|---|---|---|
| 2E 72 61 FD | 0 | Apache Tika |
| 72 74 73 70 3A 2F 2F | 0 | Gary Kessler |
Extension
.ram
MIME Type
audio/x-pn-realaudio
Byte Offset
0
Risk Level
Safe
Validation Code
How to validate .ram files in Python
def is_ram(file_path: str) -> bool:
"""Check if file is a valid RAM by magic bytes."""
signature = bytes([0x2E, 0x72, 0x61, 0xFD])
with open(file_path, "rb") as f:
return f.read(4) == signatureHow to validate .ram files in Node.js
function isRAM(buffer: Buffer): boolean {
const signature = Buffer.from([0x2E, 0x72, 0x61, 0xFD]);
return buffer.subarray(0, 4).equals(signature);
}How to validate .ram files in Go
func IsRAM(data []byte) bool {
signature := []byte{0x2E, 0x72, 0x61, 0xFD}
if len(data) < 4 {
return false
}
return bytes.Equal(data[:4], signature)
}API Endpoint
/api/v1/ram
curl https://filesignature.org/api/v1/ram
See the full API documentation for all endpoints and parameters.
Related Formats
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a .ram file?
A .ram file is a RealMedia metafile file. RealMedia metafile (RAM) is a playlist and reference file format developed and maintained by RealNetworks for the RealMedia streaming ecosystem. It is used to point media players to streaming audio or video content and was commonly employed for internet radio, online clips, and other RealPlayer-based delivery systems. The format is legacy and largely obsolete, and its files are generally safe, though any referenced remote media should still be opened from trusted sources.
What are the magic bytes for .ram files?
The magic bytes for RealMedia metafile files are 2E 72 61 FD at byte offset 0. These bytes uniquely identify the file format regardless of the file extension.
How do I validate a .ram file?
To validate a .ram file, read the first bytes of the file and compare them against the known magic bytes (2E 72 61 FD) at offset 0. This is more reliable than checking the file extension alone, as extensions can be renamed.
What is the MIME type for .ram files?
The primary MIME type for .ram files is audio/x-pn-realaudio.
Is it safe to open .ram files?
RealMedia metafile (.ram) 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.