{
 "id": "resource-interchange-file-format-riff",
 "name": "Resource Interchange File Format (RIFF)",
 "category": "audio",
 "identifiers": {
  "extensions": [
   "riff"
  ],
  "mime": [
   "application/x-riff"
  ],
  "puid": [
   "fmt/1886"
  ],
  "wikidata": [
   "Q1196805"
  ],
  "loc_fdd": [
   "fdd000025"
  ],
  "magic": [
   {
    "offset": 0,
    "hex": "52494646",
    "notes": "RIFF"
   }
  ],
  "signatures": [
   {
    "name": "RIFF",
    "sequences": [
     {
      "position": "bof",
      "offset": 0,
      "pattern": "52494646"
     }
    ]
   }
  ]
 },
 "status": "writable",
 "summary": "RIFF (Resource Interchange File Format) is a structured framework for multimedia files. Rather than being a precise file format, RIFF serves as a broader structure that encompasses specific file formats, including several subtypes. The fundamental component of a RIFF file is a chunk, identifiable by a unique four-character code. Applications such as viewers can bypass chunks with unfamiliar codes. A core RIFF chunk starts with a second distinctive four-character code identifying the specific RIFF variant or subtype. Applications rendering RIFF files can disregard chunks with unknown labels. Chunks can also be layered within each other. While the RIFF structure underpins several critical file formats, it has not been employed as the enclosing structure for any formats developed post the mid-1990s.",
 "tools": [
  {
   "name": "Corel Painter version 12",
   "url": "https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q109585830",
   "reads": true,
   "writes": true
  },
  {
   "name": "ExifTool",
   "url": "https://exiftool.org/",
   "reads": true,
   "writes": false,
   "license": "Artistic License / GNU General Public License, version 1.0 or later",
   "open_source": true
  },
  {
   "name": "Kreative Structured Format Library",
   "url": "https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q139661097",
   "reads": true,
   "writes": true,
   "license": "Mozilla Public License",
   "open_source": true
  },
  {
   "name": "libexiv2",
   "url": "https://exiv2.org/",
   "reads": true,
   "writes": false,
   "license": "GNU General Public License, version 2.0 or later",
   "open_source": true
  },
  {
   "name": "PaintShop Pro X4",
   "url": "https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q110977057",
   "reads": true,
   "writes": true
  },
  {
   "name": "Q3898244",
   "url": "https://MediaArea.net/MediaInfo",
   "reads": true,
   "writes": false,
   "license": "BSD licenses / GNU General Public License / GNU Lesser General Public License",
   "open_source": true
  }
 ],
 "projects": [
  {
   "name": "PRONOM fmt/1886",
   "url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/PRONOM/fmt/1886",
   "kind": "format-doc"
  },
  {
   "name": "Wikidata Q1196805",
   "url": "https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1196805",
   "kind": "wiki"
  },
  {
   "name": "File Formats Wiki",
   "url": "http://fileformats.archiveteam.org/wiki/RIFF",
   "kind": "wiki"
  }
 ],
 "provenance": {
  "sources": [
   "pronom",
   "wikidata"
  ]
 },
 "updated": "2026-10-20",
 "aliases": [],
 "structure": [],
 "parsers": [],
 "conversions": [],
 "samples": [],
 "claims": [],
 "verification": []
}