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WAD (.wad)

.wad file signature | application/x-doom

WAD (Where's All the Data) is a resource archive format created by id Software for the Doom series and related games. It stores levels, graphics, sounds, and other game assets, and is used by Doom engines, modding tools, and fan-made source ports. The format is a legacy standard from early first-person shooters, and files from untrusted sources should be handled carefully because they may contain malformed data or custom content.

Safe

Magic Bytes

Offset 0
49 57 41 44

Sources: Wikipedia

Extension

.wad

MIME Type

application/x-doom

Byte Offset

0

Risk Level

Safe

Validation Code

How to validate .wad files in Python

Python 
def is_wad(file_path: str) -> bool:
    """Check if file is a valid WAD by magic bytes."""
    signature = bytes([0x49, 0x57, 0x41, 0x44])
    with open(file_path, "rb") as f:
        return f.read(4) == signature

How to validate .wad files in Node.js

Node.js 
function isWAD(buffer: Buffer): boolean {
  const signature = Buffer.from([0x49, 0x57, 0x41, 0x44]);
  return buffer.subarray(0, 4).equals(signature);
}

How to validate .wad files in Go

Go 
func IsWAD(data []byte) bool {
    signature := []byte{0x49, 0x57, 0x41, 0x44}
    if len(data) < 4 {
        return false
    }
    return bytes.Equal(data[:4], signature)
}

API Endpoint

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

See the full API documentation for all endpoints and parameters.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a .wad file?

A .wad file is identified by the magic bytes 49 57 41 44 at byte offset 0. WAD (Where's All the Data) is a resource archive format created by id Software for the Doom series and related games. It stores levels, graphics, sounds, and other game assets, and is used by Doom engines, modding tools, and fan-made source ports. The format is a legacy standard from early first-person shooters, and files from untrusted sources should be handled carefully because they may contain malformed data or custom content.

What are the magic bytes for .wad files?

The magic bytes for WAD files are 49 57 41 44 at byte offset 0. These bytes uniquely identify the file format regardless of the file extension.

How do I validate a .wad file?

To validate a .wad file, read the first bytes of the file and compare them against the known magic bytes (49 57 41 44) at offset 0. This is more reliable than checking the file extension alone, as extensions can be renamed.

What is the MIME type for .wad files?

The primary MIME type for .wad files is application/x-doom.

Is it safe to open .wad files?

WAD (.wad) 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.