SPSS Statistics (.sav)

.sav file signature | application/x-spss-sav

SPSS Statistics SAV is a binary data file format used by IBM SPSS Statistics, originally developed by SPSS Inc. It stores dataset values, variable definitions, labels, and metadata for statistical analysis and data management in research, business, and social science applications. The format is still in use, though older files may require compatibility handling in newer software; it is generally considered safe when opened from trusted sources.

Safe

Magic Bytes

Offset 0


              24 46 4C 32 40 28 23 29 20 53 50 53 53 20 44 41 54 41 20 46 49 4C 45

Sources: Gary Kessler

Extension

.sav

MIME Type

application/x-spss-sav

Byte Offset

Risk Level

Safe

Validation Code

How to validate .sav files in Python

Python

def is_sav(file_path: str) -> bool:
    """Check if file is a valid SAV by magic bytes."""
    signature = bytes([0x24, 0x46, 0x4C, 0x32, 0x40, 0x28, 0x23, 0x29, 0x20, 0x53, 0x50, 0x53, 0x53, 0x20, 0x44, 0x41, 0x54, 0x41, 0x20, 0x46, 0x49, 0x4C, 0x45])
    with open(file_path, "rb") as f:
        return f.read(23) == signature

How to validate .sav files in Node.js

Node.js

function isSAV(buffer: Buffer): boolean {
  const signature = Buffer.from([0x24, 0x46, 0x4C, 0x32, 0x40, 0x28, 0x23, 0x29, 0x20, 0x53, 0x50, 0x53, 0x53, 0x20, 0x44, 0x41, 0x54, 0x41, 0x20, 0x46, 0x49, 0x4C, 0x45]);
  return buffer.subarray(0, 23).equals(signature);
}

How to validate .sav files in Go

func IsSAV(data []byte) bool {
    signature := []byte{0x24, 0x46, 0x4C, 0x32, 0x40, 0x28, 0x23, 0x29, 0x20, 0x53, 0x50, 0x53, 0x53, 0x20, 0x44, 0x41, 0x54, 0x41, 0x20, 0x46, 0x49, 0x4C, 0x45}
    if len(data) < 23 {
        return false
    }
    return bytes.Equal(data[:23], signature)
}

API Endpoint

GET /api/v1/sav


              curl https://filesignature.org/api/v1/sav

See the full API documentation for all endpoints and parameters.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a .sav file?

A .sav file is a SPSS Statistics file. SPSS Statistics SAV is a binary data file format used by IBM SPSS Statistics, originally developed by SPSS Inc. It stores dataset values, variable definitions, labels, and metadata for statistical analysis and data management in research, business, and social science applications. The format is still in use, though older files may require compatibility handling in newer software; it is generally considered safe when opened from trusted sources.

What are the magic bytes for .sav files?

The magic bytes for SPSS Statistics files are 24 46 4C 32 40 28 23 29 20 53 50 53 53 20 44 41 54 41 20 46 49 4C 45 at byte offset 0. These bytes uniquely identify the file format regardless of the file extension.

How do I validate a .sav file?

To validate a .sav file, read the first bytes of the file and compare them against the known magic bytes (24 46 4C 32 40 28 23 29 20 53 50 53 53 20 44 41 54 41 20 46 49 4C 45) at offset 0. This is more reliable than checking the file extension alone, as extensions can be renamed.

What is the MIME type for .sav files?

The primary MIME type for .sav files is application/x-spss-sav.

Is it safe to open .sav files?

SPSS Statistics (.sav) 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.