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VF magic bytes (.vf)

.vf file signature: F7 CA | application/x-tex-virtual-font

VF (Virtual Font) is a file format introduced for the TeX typesetting system, originally developed by Donald Knuth and used within TeX-related software. It is used to map character codes to glyphs and metrics, allowing TeX engines, DVI drivers, and font utilities to work with composite or reencoded fonts. VF is a legacy format in modern workflows and is generally safe, though its practical use is limited to document preparation systems that still rely on TeX font handling.

Safe

Magic Bytes

Offset 0
F7 CA

Sources: Apache Tika

Extension

.vf

MIME Type

application/x-tex-virtual-font

Byte Offset

0

Risk Level

Safe

Validation Code

How to validate .vf files in Python

Python 
def is_vf(file_path: str) -> bool:
    """Check if file is a valid VF by magic bytes."""
    signature = bytes([0xF7, 0xCA])
    with open(file_path, "rb") as f:
        return f.read(2) == signature

How to validate .vf files in Node.js

Node.js 
function isVF(buffer: Buffer): boolean {
  const signature = Buffer.from([0xF7, 0xCA]);
  return buffer.subarray(0, 2).equals(signature);
}

How to validate .vf files in Go

Go 
func IsVF(data []byte) bool {
    signature := []byte{0xF7, 0xCA}
    if len(data) < 2 {
        return false
    }
    return bytes.Equal(data[:2], signature)
}

API Endpoint

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

See the full API documentation for all endpoints and parameters.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a .vf file?

A .vf file is identified by the magic bytes F7 CA at byte offset 0. VF (Virtual Font) is a file format introduced for the TeX typesetting system, originally developed by Donald Knuth and used within TeX-related software. It is used to map character codes to glyphs and metrics, allowing TeX engines, DVI drivers, and font utilities to work with composite or reencoded fonts. VF is a legacy format in modern workflows and is generally safe, though its practical use is limited to document preparation systems that still rely on TeX font handling.

What are the magic bytes for .vf files?

The magic bytes for VF (.vf) files are F7 CA at byte offset 0. These bytes identify the file format more reliably than the extension alone.

How do I validate a .vf file?

To validate a .vf file, read the first bytes of the file and compare them against the known magic bytes (F7 CA) at offset 0. This is more reliable than checking the file extension alone, as extensions can be renamed.

What is the MIME type for .vf files?

The primary MIME type for .vf files is application/x-tex-virtual-font.

Is it safe to open .vf files?

VF (.vf) 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.