SYM magic bytes (.sym)
.sym file signature: 53 6D 62 6C | application/octet-stream
SYM is a legacy symbol file format associated with Harvard Graphics 2.x and certain Microsoft Windows SDK tools. It was used to store reusable graphic symbols for inserting into charts, diagrams, and other desktop publishing or presentation documents. The format is largely obsolete and is generally safe to open, although support may be limited in modern software and files from untrusted sources should still be handled with standard caution.
Magic Bytes
Offset 0
53 6D 62 6C
Sources: Gary Kessler
Validation Code
How to validate .sym files in Python
def is_sym(file_path: str) -> bool:
"""Check if file is a valid SYM by magic bytes."""
signature = bytes([0x53, 0x6D, 0x62, 0x6C])
with open(file_path, "rb") as f:
return f.read(4) == signatureHow to validate .sym files in Node.js
function isSYM(buffer: Buffer): boolean {
const signature = Buffer.from([0x53, 0x6D, 0x62, 0x6C]);
return buffer.subarray(0, 4).equals(signature);
}How to validate .sym files in Go
func IsSYM(data []byte) bool {
signature := []byte{0x53, 0x6D, 0x62, 0x6C}
if len(data) < 4 {
return false
}
return bytes.Equal(data[:4], signature)
}API Endpoint
/api/v1/sym
curl https://filesignature.org/api/v1/sym
See the full API documentation for all endpoints and parameters.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a .sym file?
A .sym file is identified by the magic bytes 53 6D 62 6C at byte offset 0. SYM is a legacy symbol file format associated with Harvard Graphics 2.x and certain Microsoft Windows SDK tools. It was used to store reusable graphic symbols for inserting into charts, diagrams, and other desktop publishing or presentation documents. The format is largely obsolete and is generally safe to open, although support may be limited in modern software and files from untrusted sources should still be handled with standard caution.
What are the magic bytes for .sym files?
The magic bytes for SYM (.sym) files are 53 6D 62 6C at byte offset 0. These bytes identify the file format more reliably than the extension alone.
How do I validate a .sym file?
To validate a .sym file, read the first bytes of the file and compare them against the known magic bytes (53 6D 62 6C) at offset 0. This is more reliable than checking the file extension alone, as extensions can be renamed.
What is the MIME type for .sym files?
There is no officially registered MIME type for .sym files. Systems typically use application/octet-stream as a generic fallback when handling this format.
Is it safe to open .sym files?
SYM (.sym) 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.