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SDB (.sdb)

.sdb file signature | application/octet-stream

SDB is a Microsoft Windows compatibility database format created and maintained by Microsoft for storing application shim and compatibility information. It is used by the operating system and related tools to apply fixes, redirects, and behavior adjustments for specific programs during installation or execution. The format is generally safe, though some shim databases have historically been used to modify program behavior and should be obtained from trusted sources.

Safe

Magic Bytes

Offset 8
73 64 62 66

Sources: Wikipedia

Extension

.sdb

MIME Type

application/octet-stream

Byte Offset

8

Risk Level

Safe

Validation Code

How to validate .sdb files in Python

Python 
def is_sdb(file_path: str) -> bool:
    """Check if file is a valid SDB by magic bytes at offset 8."""
    signature = bytes([0x73, 0x64, 0x62, 0x66])
    with open(file_path, "rb") as f:
        f.seek(8)
        return f.read(4) == signature

How to validate .sdb files in Node.js

Node.js 
function isSDB(buffer: Buffer): boolean {
  const signature = Buffer.from([0x73, 0x64, 0x62, 0x66]);
  if (buffer.length < 12) return false;
  return buffer.subarray(8, 12).equals(signature);
}

How to validate .sdb files in Go

Go 
func IsSDB(data []byte) bool {
    signature := []byte{0x73, 0x64, 0x62, 0x66}
    if len(data) < 12 {
        return false
    }
    return bytes.Equal(data[8:12], signature)
}

API Endpoint

GET /api/v1/sdb
curl https://filesignature.org/api/v1/sdb

See the full API documentation for all endpoints and parameters.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a .sdb file?

A .sdb file is identified by the magic bytes 73 64 62 66 at byte offset 8. SDB is a Microsoft Windows compatibility database format created and maintained by Microsoft for storing application shim and compatibility information. It is used by the operating system and related tools to apply fixes, redirects, and behavior adjustments for specific programs during installation or execution. The format is generally safe, though some shim databases have historically been used to modify program behavior and should be obtained from trusted sources.

What are the magic bytes for .sdb files?

The magic bytes for SDB files are 73 64 62 66 at byte offset 8. These bytes uniquely identify the file format regardless of the file extension.

How do I validate a .sdb file?

To validate a .sdb file, read the first bytes of the file and compare them against the known magic bytes (73 64 62 66) at offset 8. This is more reliable than checking the file extension alone, as extensions can be renamed.

What is the MIME type for .sdb files?

There is no officially registered MIME type for .sdb files. Systems typically use application/octet-stream as a generic fallback when handling this format.

Is it safe to open .sdb files?

SDB (.sdb) 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.