File Format Glossary
Plain-language definitions for every file format supported by OmniConvert — what each format is, what it's used for, and when you'd want to convert it.
Data
- CSV (Comma-Separated Values)
- A plain-text format where each row represents a record and columns are separated by commas. Universally supported by spreadsheet tools like Excel, Google Sheets, and databases. Best for flat tabular data without nested structures. Convert this format →
- JSON (JavaScript Object Notation)
- A lightweight text format for structured data using key-value pairs, arrays, and nested objects. The standard data exchange format for web APIs and JavaScript applications. Supports hierarchical data that CSV cannot express. Convert this format →
- YAML (YAML Ain't Markup Language)
- A human-readable data serialisation format commonly used for configuration files (Docker, Kubernetes, CI/CD pipelines). More readable than JSON but functionally equivalent for most use cases. Convert this format →
- XML (Extensible Markup Language)
- A tag-based markup language for encoding documents and data in a format that is both human-readable and machine-readable. Widely used in enterprise systems, SOAP APIs, and legacy data exchange. Convert this format →
- TOML (Tom's Obvious, Minimal Language)
- A minimal configuration file format designed to be easy to read due to obvious semantics. Popular in Rust projects (Cargo.toml), Python packaging (pyproject.toml), and Hugo static sites. Convert this format →
- TSV (Tab-Separated Values)
- A plain-text tabular format identical to CSV but uses tab characters as delimiters instead of commas. Useful when data values themselves contain commas, avoiding the need for quoting. Convert this format →
- Base64
- An encoding scheme that represents binary data as ASCII text using 64 printable characters. Used to embed binary files (images, fonts) directly in HTML/CSS, transmit binary over text-only protocols, and store files in JSON. Convert this format →
Spreadsheet
- XLSX (Excel Spreadsheet)
- The default file format for Microsoft Excel since 2007. An XML-based format that supports multiple sheets, formulas, charts, and formatting. Compatible with Google Sheets, LibreOffice, and most spreadsheet tools. Convert this format →
- ODS (OpenDocument Spreadsheet)
- An open standard spreadsheet format used by LibreOffice Calc and Apache OpenOffice. An ISO-standardised alternative to XLSX, interoperable with most modern spreadsheet applications. Convert this format →
Image
- HEIC / HEIF (High Efficiency Image Container)
- The default photo format on iPhones (iOS 11 and later). Produces significantly smaller file sizes than JPEG at equivalent quality. Not universally supported — Windows and many web services require conversion to JPG or PNG. Convert this format →
- WebP
- A modern image format developed by Google that provides superior compression for both lossless and lossy images compared to PNG and JPEG. Widely supported in modern browsers and significantly reduces web page weight. Convert this format →
- AVIF (AV1 Image File Format)
- A next-generation image format based on the AV1 video codec. Offers better compression than WebP and JPEG, with support for HDR and wide colour gamut. Growing browser support as of 2024. Convert this format →
- SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics)
- An XML-based vector image format. Unlike raster formats (JPG, PNG), SVGs scale to any size without loss of quality. Used for logos, icons, and illustrations on the web.
- ICO (Windows Icon)
- A container format for Windows icons, typically containing multiple image sizes (16×16, 32×32, 48×48 pixels) within a single file. Used for application icons and browser favicons. Convert this format →
Geo
- GeoJSON
- An open standard JSON format for encoding geographic data structures such as points, lines, polygons, and feature collections. Supported natively by Google Maps, Mapbox, Leaflet, and most GIS tools. Convert this format →
- KML (Keyhole Markup Language)
- An XML-based format for geographic data, originally developed for Google Earth. Used to represent map overlays, placemarks, routes, and polygons. The native export format of Google Maps and Google Earth. Convert this format →
- GPX (GPS Exchange Format)
- An XML schema designed for the exchange of GPS data — tracks, routes, and waypoints — between GPS devices and software. The standard export format for fitness devices (Garmin, Strava, Komoot). Convert this format →
- Shapefile
- A widely used geospatial vector data format developed by Esri. A shapefile actually consists of multiple files (.shp, .shx, .dbf) that must be distributed together, typically as a ZIP archive. Used extensively in GIS software like QGIS and ArcGIS. Convert this format →
Finance
- OFX / QFX (Open Financial Exchange)
- An open standard for exchanging financial data between banks, brokerages, and personal finance software. Banks export account statements and transaction history in OFX/QFX format for import into tools like Quicken, QuickBooks, and Mint. Convert this format →
Document
- DOCX (Word Document)
- The default file format for Microsoft Word since 2007. An XML-based format (OOXML) for word-processing documents supporting text formatting, tables, images, and tracked changes. Convert this format →
- Markdown
- A lightweight plain-text formatting syntax designed to be readable as-is and convertible to HTML. Widely used for README files, documentation, and content in static site generators (Jekyll, Hugo, Docusaurus). Convert this format →
Subtitle
- SRT (SubRip Subtitle)
- The most common subtitle file format. A plain-text file containing numbered subtitle entries with start/end timestamps and text. Supported by virtually all video players and streaming platforms. Convert this format →
- VTT (WebVTT)
- Web Video Text Tracks — the subtitle/caption format for HTML5 video. An evolution of SRT with support for text positioning, styling, and metadata. Required for subtitles in browser-based video players. Convert this format →
Citation
- BibTeX
- A reference management file format used with LaTeX for academic and scientific documents. Contains structured bibliography entries (articles, books, theses) with fields like author, title, year, and journal. Convert this format →
- RIS (Research Information Systems)
- A standardised tag-based citation format used for importing and exporting references between reference managers (Zotero, Mendeley, EndNote). Each entry contains tags for title, authors, year, DOI, and more. Convert this format →
Archive
- GZIP (.gz)
- A file compression format based on the DEFLATE algorithm. Produces a single compressed file (unlike ZIP, which is a container for multiple files). Standard for compressing log files and transferring data on Unix/Linux systems. Convert this format →
CSS
- SCSS (Sassy CSS)
- A CSS preprocessor syntax that adds variables, nesting, mixins, and functions to standard CSS. Must be compiled to plain CSS before use in browsers. The default stylesheet language in many JavaScript frameworks. Convert this format →
- LESS
- A CSS preprocessor similar to SCSS that adds variables, nesting, and mixins to CSS. Popularised by Bootstrap and Twitter's early front-end stack. Compiled to plain CSS for browser consumption. Convert this format →