🔀 Multi-Format Extension (.DAT)

Multiple Formats Use the .DAT Extension

The .dat extension represents 2 distinct file formats depending on your application or industry. Select a format variant below to jump to its specification:

Format 1 Structured data and serialisation

Generic Binary Data / Data Sheet File

ZumiFiles Engine: Structured Hex Inspection & Text Stream parser

View Structured data and serialisation Specs ↓

Format 2 Video and animation

Video CD (VCD) MPEG-1 Video Stream

ZumiFiles Engine: WasmMediaViewer via FFmpeg WASM video converter

View Video and animation Specs ↓

⚔️ Format Comparison (.DAT Variants)

Property	Variant 1: Generic Binary Data / Data Sheet File	Variant 2: Video CD (VCD) MPEG-1 Video Stream
Category	Structured data and serialisation	Video and animation
File Header / Signature	UTF-8 source text (import / const / type / interface)	Sync byte 0x47 (188-byte transport packets)
ZumiFiles Engine	Structured Hex Inspection & Text Stream parser	WasmMediaViewer via FFmpeg WASM video converter
Browser Support	✓ PREVIEWABLE (High)	✓ PREVIEWABLE (High)

.DAT Container • Multi-Format Extension

PREVIEWABLE

DAT File (.dat)

Open and inspect supported .DAT files privately inside your browser. Your files remain 100% local and are never uploaded to any server or cloud API.

Launch .DAT Viewer in ZumiFiles

📋 Detailed Format Specifications

2 Distinct Formats for .DAT

Format 1

Generic Binary Data / Data Sheet File (.dat)

Structured data and serialisation • ✓ PREVIEWABLE

ZumiFiles Engine: Structured Hex Inspection & Text Stream parser

What is an .DAT File (Generic Binary Data / Data Sheet File)?

Generic Data Files (.dat) store application-specific binary arrays, configuration preferences, database records, or text tables.

Associated Software & Origin

Generated by Microsoft Access, Minecraft, Windows System tools, and enterprise database systems.

Data Structure & Characteristics

Application-defined binary structure or delimited text entries requiring signature inspection.

What ZumiFiles Can Inspect

ZumiFiles analyzes signature magic bytes, strings, and structural fields to render hex or text table viewports.

⚡ ZumiFiles Engine Specs for Generic Binary Data / Data Sheet File

✓

Technical Engine: Structured Hex Inspection & Text Stream parser

✓

Client-Side Security: 100% in-browser sandboxed decoding with zero network server uploads.

✓

Sidecar Metadata: Attach tags, 5-star ratings, custom color tints, and notes via portable .{filename}.json sidecars.

Format 2

Video CD (VCD) MPEG-1 Video Stream (.dat)

Video and animation • ✓ PREVIEWABLE

ZumiFiles Engine: WasmMediaViewer via FFmpeg WASM video converter

What is an .DAT File (Video CD (VCD) MPEG-1 Video Stream)?

Video CD DAT files (.dat) are MPEG-1 multiplexed video stream containers stored in the `MPEGAV` directory of optical Video CDs (VCD).

Associated Software & Origin

Created by 1990s VCD authoring software. Played on standalone VCD / DVD players, VLC Media Player, Windows Media Player, and FFmpeg.

Data Structure & Characteristics

Contains raw 2,324-byte Mode 2 Form 2 CD-ROM sectors encapsulating MPEG-1 video (352x240 @ 29.97fps) and MP2 audio.

What ZumiFiles Can Inspect

ZumiFiles parses VCD sector headers and streams MPEG-1 video using client-side FFmpeg WebAssembly.

⚡ ZumiFiles Engine Specs for Video CD (VCD) MPEG-1 Video Stream

✓

Technical Engine: WasmMediaViewer via FFmpeg WASM video converter

✓

Client-Side Security: 100% in-browser sandboxed decoding with zero network server uploads.

✓

Sidecar Metadata: Attach tags, 5-star ratings, custom color tints, and notes via portable .{filename}.json sidecars.

Related File Formats & Viewers

Inspect other supported formats within the Multi-Format Extension suite:

Flexible Ways to View Files in ZumiFiles

ZumiFiles adapts to your exact workflow. Choose how you want to open and inspect your files:

1. Browse Local Directory

Mount entire project folders directly from your computer using the browser's File System Access API. Navigate nested subfolders with dual-pane split screens.

2. Instant Single-File Preview

Drag and drop or select a single file to inspect it instantly in a sandboxed viewport. Perfect for quick checks without mounting whole directories.

3. Load Remote File URL

Paste any public web URL to fetch and render remote documents, 3D models, code files, or spreadsheets directly inside your browser.

Launch .DAT Viewer in ZumiFiles

Explore all 1,750+ formats in the ZumiFiles File Format Matrix.